Andrew Luck

Andrew Austen Luck (born September 12, 1989) is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Stanford University, won the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award as college football’s player of the year, and was recognized as an All-American.^[1] He was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in both 2010 and 2011. He was named the Offensive Player of the Year in the Pac-12 (Pac-10) Conference in both 2010 and 2011. CBS Sports draft analyst Rob Rang called Luck the best prospect he has ever scouted,^[2] while the Kansas City Star put him in line with LeBron James and Bryce Harper as “the most hyped amateurs in recent sports memory”.^[3] Although widely projected as the No. 1 selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, Luck decided to return to Stanford for his redshirt junior season.^[4] A year later, he was selected first overall in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Early life

Luck was born in Washington, D.C.,^[5] the son of Oliver Luck, current athletic director and a former quarterback at West Virginia University and former NFL quarterback for the Houston Oilers, and Kathy (née Wilson) Luck.

Oliver Luck was general manager of two World League of American Football teams prior to becoming president of the league so that Luck spent his early childhood in London, England and Frankfurt, Germany, where he attended Frankfurt International School. He is the oldest of four children, Mary Ellen, Emily, and Addison, who currently reside in Morgantown, West Virginia. In London, he attended The American School in London.^[6]

The Lucks returned to Texas when Oliver Luck was named CEO of the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority. In Houston, Andrew attended Stratford High School, where he threw for 7,139 yards and 53 touchdowns in his high school career, and rushed for another 2,085 yards.^[7] Luck was also co-valedictorian of his graduating class in 2008.^[7] Regarded as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Luck was listed as the No. 4 pro-style quarterback in the class of 2008.^[8] A highly-rated high school recruiting target,^[7] he chose Stanford over offers from Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Rice, and Virginia, after being recruited by Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh.^[9]

College career

[edit]2009 season

After redshirting during his freshman year in 2008, he earned the starting quarterback job in 2009 over the returning starter, Tavita Pritchard, thereby becoming the first Stanford freshman to earn the starting quarterback job since Chad Hutchinson in 1996.^[6] In his first season, Luck led the Cardinal to victories over top ten Oregon and USC teams and a berth in the 2009 Sun Bowl.^[10] Playing in a run-oriented offense featuring Heisman Trophy runner-up Toby Gerhart, Luck threw for 2,575 yards. Luck had 2,929 yards of total offense, the fifth highest total in Stanford history. He led the Pac-10 in pass efficiency rating with a rating of 143.5, and finished second in the Pac-10 in total offense.^[11]

Luck injured a finger on his throwing hand in the Cardinal’s final regular season game against Notre Dame. He had surgery prior to the Sun Bowl and did not play in the game.^[12]

[edit]2010 season

Luck being photographed after the Big Game between Stanford and Cal in 2010

In 2010, Luck emerged as one of the top players in the nation. Luck was named the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year and was unanimously selected to the All Pac-10 First Team. Luck led Stanford to a 12–1 record, a # 4 ranking in the final AP Poll, and a victory in the Orange Bowl. Luck was named the Orange Bowl MVP after throwing 4 TD passes in Stanford’s 40–12 win over Virginia Tech. Luck led the Pac-10 in pass efficiency for the second straight year with a quarterback rating of 170.2. He also led the conference in total offense with 3,791 yards, in passing yards with 3,338 yards, and in touchdown passes with 32. Luck rushed for 453 yards, a record for Stanford quarterbacks, with three runs of over 50 yards. Luck’s 32 touchdown passes are a new Stanford record, breaking the old record of 27 held by John Elway and Steve Stenstrom. Luck’s 3,791 yards of total offense also are a school record, breaking the old record of 3,398 yards held by Stenstrom. Luck also set new Stanford single season records for completion percentage (70.7%) and pass efficiency rating (170.2). He won the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week award for his performances against Arizona and California.

Luck finished the 2010 season with two years of college eligibility remaining. He was eligible to declare for the 2011 NFL Draft, but announced on January 6, 2011 that he would remain at Stanford to complete his degree.^[4][13] He was viewed by many TV sportscasters and ESPN writers as the top pro quarterback prospect in college football. In December 2010, Sporting News projected Luck as the No. 1 selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, had he entered.^[14]

[edit]2011 season

In 2011, Luck led Stanford to a record of 11–2, a berth in a BCS bowl (the Fiesta Bowl), and a # 7 ranking in the final AP Poll. He won the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award. He was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy for the second consecutive year, becoming the fourth player to finish second in the Heisman voting twice. He was named a First Team All America (AFCA, Walter Camp, ESPN.com, Pro Football Weekly). He was the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, becoming only the fifth player to win that award twice (after John Elway, Charles White, Reggie Bush, and Rueben Mayes). He was named First Team All Pac-12 for the second straight year. Luck set a new Stanford record for career touchdown passes with 82, breaking John Elway’s record of 77. Luck also set a new school record for touchdown passes in a season with 37, breaking his own record of 32. Luck set another school record for career total offense with 10,387 yards, breaking Steve Stenstrom’s mark of 9,825 yards. Luck became Stanford’s all-time leader in wins by a starting quarterback, with 31 wins through the end of the regular season. Luck also became Stanford’s all-time leader in winning percentage by a starting quarterback, with a winning percentage of .816 (31–7). Luck broke the Pac-12 records for career passing efficiency rating (162.8) and career completion percentage (67.0%). He also broke his own Pac-12 record for highest completion percentage in a season (71.3%). Luck was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Washington State. He earned the 2011 Academic All-America of the Year award.^[15]

[edit]Statistics

[edit]Awards and honors

Andrew Luck at the Big Game against Cal in 2009.

2012 season Pepsi Max Rookie Of the week: Week 3^[16] Week 5 ^[17] 2011 season

• First Team All America (AFCA, Walter Camp, ESPN.com, PFW)
• Maxwell Award Winner
• Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Winner
• Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Winner
• Heisman Trophy Runner Up
• Davey O’Brien Award Finalist
• Manning Award Finalist
• Academic All-America of the Year (CoSIDA)
• Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year
• First Team All Pac-12
• First Team Pac-12 All Academic Team
• Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week, October 17, 2011

2010 season

• Heisman Trophy Runner Up
• Maxwell Award Finalist
• Walter Camp Award Finalist
• Davey O’Brien Award Finalist
• Manning Award Finalist
• Second Team All America (AP, Walter Camp, SI.com, CBSSports.com)
• Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year
• First Team All Pac-10
• Second Team Pac-10 All Academic Team
• Orange Bowl MVP
• Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week, Nov. 8, 2010 & Nov. 22, 2010

2009 season

• Freshman All America (The Sporting News, CollegeFootballNews.com, Scout.com)
• Honorable Mention All Pac-10
• First Team Pac-10 All Academic Team

[edit]Records

Pac-12 single season records

• Highest completion percentage, season—71.3% (2011)

Pac-12 career records

• Highest passing efficiency rating, career—162.8
• Highest completion percentage, career—67.0%

Stanford single season records

• Most touchdown passes, season—37 (2011)
• Most total offense, season—3,791 yards (2010)
• Highest passing efficiency rating, season—170.2 (2010)
• Highest completion percentage, season—71.3% (2011)
• Most yards per pass attempt, season—9.0 (2010)
• Most rushing yards by a quarterback, season—453 yards (2010)

Stanford career records

• Most touchdown passes, career—82
• Most total offense, career—10,387 yards
• Highest passing efficiency rating, career—162.8
• Highest completion percentage, career—67.0%
• Most yards per pass attempt, career—8.9 yards/attempt
• Most rushing yards by a quarterback, career—957 yards
• Most wins by a starting quarterback, career—31
• Highest winning percentage by a starting quarterback, career – .816

“”NFL Rookie Records”"

Most passing yards in a single game: 433

[edit]Professional career

Luck during his first career NFL game against the Chicago Bears

[edit]2012 NFL Draft

In September 2010, prior to Luck’s sophomore season, Sports Illustrated′s Tony Pauline considered him to be “the most NFL-ready of all the draft-eligible quarterback prospects.”^[18] After a stellar sophomore year, Luck was widely projected to be the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, but decided to return for his junior season.^[4] Right after the 2011 draft, in May 2011, he was unanimously projected as the top prospect for the 2012 NFL Draft.^[19][20][21] By midseason, Pauline described him as “the best quarterback prospect since Peyton Manning” in 1998,^[22] while ESPN′sMel Kiper, Jr. went even further, calling Luck the best quarterback prospect since John Elway in 1983.^[23] Despite Robert Griffin III′s impressiveHeisman Trophy winning season, Luck’s status as the No. 1 overall draft prospect was never questioned.^[24][25]

Throughout the 2011 NFL season, some fans called for their teams to try to lose their remaining games (or “Suck for Luck”), in order to improve their chances for the first pick in the draft.^[26] By midseason, the Miami Dolphins were believed to be the “frontrunners” for the No. 1 pick, and drew criticism from their former franchise quarterback Dan Marino.^[27] The Indianapolis Colts won the “Luck sweepstakes” with a 2-14 record.^[28]

Ending speculations on April 24, Colts general manager Ryan Grigson announced the team would take Luck with their first overall draft pick.^[29]The decision became official on draft day, April 26, 2012. Luck was the fourth Stanford quarterback to be selected first overall, after Bobby Garrettin 1954, Jim Plunkett in 1971, and John Elway in 1983. Luck was the second Stanford QB to be taken first overall by the Indianapolis Colts (John Elway 1983)

[edit]Indianapolis Colts

On July 19, 2012, Luck officially signed a four-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts worth $22 million dollars.^[30] This deal made Luck the fourth starting quarterback for the Colts in the past 2 NFL seasons,^[31] (Following Kerry Collins, Curtis Painter and Dan Orlovsky) ^[32] In his debut, a preseason game against the St. Louis Rams, Luck’s first pass was a 63-yard touchdown pass to running back Donald Brown. He also threw a touchdown pass to receiver Austin Collie. In his second preseason game, a 26-24 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Luck played during the first half and ran for one touchdown, with two interceptions.^[33] In his regular season debut, Luck threw his first career interception to Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings.^[34] He would later throw his first career touchdown pass to Donnie Avery.^[35] Ultimately, Luck completed 23 of 45 passes for 309 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions, as the Colts lost 41-21.^[36] The next week against the Minnesota Vikings, Luck threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Additionally, Luck got his first career win in the NFL and did this by completing his first game winning drive of his professional career. In a week 5 showdown with the Green Bay Packers, Luck completed his second career game winning drive by throwing a touchdown to Reggie Wayne with 35 seconds left. Luck’s then career-best 362-yard passing effort set a new rookie QB mark in Colts franchise history. The 18-point comeback also was the best by a rookie quarterback since Matthew Stafford led a 21-point rally for the Lions vs. the Browns in 2009. Luck completed 31 of 55 for 362 yards and three total touchdowns (2 passing, 1 rushing). Luck won his first career road and overtime game during a week 8 game against the division rival Tennessee Titans. A touchdown pass to running backVick Ballard on the first drive of overtime gave the Colts a 19-13 victory. In a week 9 win against the Miami Dolphins, Luck threw for 433 yards, a new record for most yards in a game by a rookie QB (surpassing Cam Newton‘s 432 against the Green Bay Packers in 2011).^[37]

[edit]Career Statistics

[edit]NFL records

• Most passing yards in a single game by a rookie quarterback: 433 (vs Miami Dolphins) (11/4/12)^[38]