The Saints-Hoosiers Connection

I'm watching the New Orleans-Atlanta Monday Night game tonight, and noticed that a couple of former Indiana University players are playing major roles for the Saints.

Second-year corner Tracy Porter (above) is established as the starter on the right side of the field. Porter was one of the two most important players in the 2007 (fluke) bowl season, not only racking up a sick amount of INT's (16 for his career) but also acting as one of IU's special teams studs, along with Marcus Thigpen. He actually holds the IU record for interception return yardage, with 413 yards.

The Saints took him in the second round in 2008 and he started right away before a wrist injury put him on the IR, ending a promising rookie season.

This year, he's been a legitimate factor at corner, with two picks (one returned for a TD), and 7 pass deflections. He is thriving in new coordinator Gregg Williams' aggressive scheme along with the rejuvenated S Darren Sharper and LCB Jabari Greer.

***Porter just made his 3rd INT of the year in the clutch, picking off a pass intended for Tony Gonzalez at the one yard line in the 4th quarter. Jonathan Vilma (The U!) tipped the pass and Tracy fingertipped it about a foot from the ground. Huge play!***

But Porter isn't the only former Hoosier making plays tonight. Anybody who was here for the Gerry DiNardo Era has got to remember the other superstar wideout of the 2000's, the guy whose records were broken soon after his departure by James Hardy. That's right, it's the little fella, Courtney Roby! (pictured)

He had 170 catches for over 2500 yards at Indiana, but has bounced around in the NFL (Titans, Bengals, Colts, Saints), finally finding a niche as a kickoff returner. After being ignominiously cut by the Colts earlier this year, Roby was acquired by the Saints, who clearly know a good thing when they see it.

In the Monday Night spotlight, he has returned 3 kicks for 88 yards and a sweet 29.3 yard average.

Porter and Roby are part of a solid Saints cadre of Big Ten alums including Drew Brees (Purdue), Will Smith (Ohio State), Pierre Thomas (Illinois), and first round rookie Malcom Jenkins (TOSU), as well as LT Zach Streif (Northwestern).

With such a relative handful of Indiana alums in the NFL (I bet you can name almost all of 'em if you think hard enough), it's nice to see these guys playing well for one of the league's best teams.

Proof positive that IU can recruit and develop big-league caliber talent just as well as some of the prestige programs, and another reminder that our current coaching staff is probably wasting the college years of some future stars!