Zach Osterman

zach.osterman@indystar.com

When Courtney Roby left Indiana a semester early in 2005 to prepare for the NFL draft, he made the same promise to his parents as many of his peers.

Now, nine years, one Super Bowl and a professional football career later, Roby, 31, is fulfilling that promise. On Saturday, he will graduate from IU with a bachelor’s degree in public management.

“It was definitely important for me to go back and get that degree,” he said.

Roby’s story isn’t uncommon.

Watching two former teammates in New Orleans, Lance Moore and Marques Colston, further their education in the offseason fueled Roby’s own desire to complete his degree.

“Marques Colston, he actually completed his master’s while playing,” said Roby, who left IU as the program’s all-time leading receiver. “Definitely, seeing that motivated me. That speaks volumes. I had no excuse and really no choice but (to) make sure I got what I needed to do done.”

Now living in Fishers, Roby is at the end of a 15 credit-hour semester. When he began, he commuted to Bloomington for classes. But the extra time that took eventually led him to move his studies to IUPUI, where he finished his degree.

Where once he balanced classes with his football commitments, Roby has traded the weight room and offseason workouts for family time. He’s married with one daughter, and he and his wife are expecting another child.

“It was definitely different,” he said.

Roby will attend graduation in Bloomington on Saturday, and he’s expected to speak at a separate IU athletics ceremony.

He has kept in shape throughout the semester and plans to assess his NFL options after this weekend’s draft is completed. Roby said he wouldn’t have a problem ending his seven-season career if it’s the right decision. Working for IU athletics in some capacity that would allow him to stay close to football would qualify as a dream job for Roby, but he’s open to anything.

Roby last played in the NFL with the Saints in 2012. Living in his hometown again, he admits he still endures friendly razzing for having won a Super Bowl at the Indianapolis Colts’ expense, with New Orleans in 2010.

“Being in the NFL, it definitely has its ups and downs. I’ve been fortunate enough to win a Super Bowl and have some credentials as well, but life goes on,” he said. “I’m just kind of leaving the next chapter of my life open.”

Follow Star reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.