| Rocky Boiman |
|
|
Heart and soul of Irish defense that ranked 14th in the
nation in total defense in 2001 ... was a fourth-round draft pick of
the Tennessee Titans ... one of four captains for Notre Dame in 2001 ... named to collegefootballnews.com all-independent teamS an intense
defender whose pass-rush skills are his strong suit ... added
fiery, passionate attitude to the defensive unit during his career ... his enthusiasm and game-day demeanor helped set the tone for major
defensive improvement by the Irish in 2000 and 2001 ... originally came
in as free safety but made quick transition to linebacker with
immediate gains in weight and strength ... also played key role on
special teams.
AS A SENIOR: Starting outside linebacker for second
consecutive season with Notre Dame in 2001 ... named to
collegefootballnews.com all-independent team ... one of four team
captains for the Irish ... named preseason honorable mention
All-American by Street & Smith's ... named to Football News
preseason all-independent teamSstarted in seven of 11 games in '01,
missing only West Virginia, Boston College, Navy, and Purdue when
Irish opened in nickel defense ... had 10 tackles for loss and five
sacks on the season ... made five tackles vs. Nebraska and also
recovered a fumbleShad a career-high 11 tackles vs. Texas A&M ... recorded four tackles, including first sack of season versus West
VirginiaSreturned to starting lineup versus USC and recorded three
tackles and two sacks ... posted five tackles against Boston
College, including one for loss ... recorded three tackles and recovered
a fumble versus Stanford ... posted a sack against Purdue.
AS A JUNIOR: Selected to midseason team called Great Unknowns
by The Sporting News - "You probably won't recognize their faces, but
you should recognize their efforts" ... started every 2000 game at
outside linebacker except Stanford and West Virginia, when the Irish
began in nickel formations, for 10 starts overall including vs.
Oregon State in 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl ... registered
career-high nine tackles and a sack vs. both Texas A&M and Nebraska.
. . had six tackles and caused a fumble against Purdue ... made
five tackles including one for loss vs. Stanford and led defenders in
playing time ... worked more as an end vs. Navy and Air Force
option attacks when Irish started five defensive backs ... had a
sack and another tackle for loss vs. Midshipmen and recorded eight
tackles including one for loss vs. Falcons ... registered six
tackles vs. Boston College, while playing every defensive snap ...
made 100th career tackle vs. Rutgers ... tied for team lead in
tackles vs. Oregon State with nine, to go with two forced fumbles, a
sack and another tackle for loss ... made 66 regular-season special
team appearances, then five more vs. Oregon State in 2001 Tostitos
Fiesta Bowl.
AS A SOPHOMORE: Irish regular at outside linebacker in '99 .
. . started vs. Kansas, Michigan, Michigan State, Arizona State and
Stanford ... made first career start vs. Kansas, recovering a
fumble on opening series ... recovery came on sixth play of the
game and set up a 39-yard Irish scoring drive that gave Notre Dame
quick 7-0 lead ... later recovered a Kansas field goal attempt
blocked by Clifford Jefferson and returned it 11 yards in third
period to set up 34-yard Irish scoring drive that made it 27-13 for
Notre Dame ... made career-high seven tackles vs. Michigan ...
saw limited playing time off the bench vs. Purdue because of Notre
Dame's frequent use of nickel and dime defensive packages ... made
four tackles in start vs. Michigan State ... also came off bench
vs. Oklahoma because Irish started game in dime package ...
recorded five tackles in start vs. Arizona State ... came off bench
with three tackles, including one for loss vs. USC ... made four
tackles and recovered a fumble in reserve effort vs. Navy ... had
four tackles, a sack, and a pass broken up vs. Pittsburgh ...
returned to starting role and made five tackles vs. Stanford ...
recovered fourth-quarter fumble on Cardinal 32-yard line to set up
Irish scoring drive which tied the game 37-37 ... also made 169
special teams appearances.
AS A FRESHMAN: Played in nine regular-season games in '98 and
also saw action vs. Georgia Tech in '99 Gator Bowl ... assisted
primarily with Irish special teams, also seeing brief action at at
linebacker vs. Michigan State ... made 114 regular-season special
team appearances overall to rank eighth on squad in that category
(first among freshmen), then made 18 more in Gator Bowl (making one
assisted tackle) ... played in every game except Army and Baylor
(thigh contusion) ... made 19 special team appearances vs. Purdue,
17 vs. both Boston College and LSU ... worked on kickoff, kickoff
return and punt return teams.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Southwest Ohio Player of the
Year for '97 ... also selected Greater Cincinnati League Player of
the Year and all-city player of the year ... earned three letters
in football as free safety at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati .
. . captain and team MVP as senior ... three-time all-league
selection ... set school records for most kickoff return yards plus
longest kickoff return (95 yards) ... had 330 career tackles, 11
interceptions, 15 passes broken up ... made 164 tackles and
intercepted six passes for 139 return yards at free safety as senior
in '97 ... averaged 26.4 yards on 16 kickoff returns in '97 ...
first-team all-state pick helped St. Xavier to 9-3 mark and Ohio
playoff berth in '97 ... had 72 tackles and four interceptions in
eight games as junior, plus 10 kickoff returns for 228 yards, and
also played some as running back ... selected for Ohio North-South
all-star game and Ohio-Pennsylvania Big 33 all-star game ... Notre
Dame football camp alumnus who committed to Irish in July of '97 ... earned two letters in baseball (shortstop, second base) and one in
track (sprinter) ... captain of track team as senior ... two-time
all-city in baseball ... full name is Rocky Michael Boiman ...
older of two children ... born 1-24-80 in Cincinnati ... earned
3.167 grade-point average during 2000 spring semester - and 3.026
average during 2000 fall semester ... graduated in May 2002 from the
College of Arts and Letters with a degree in pre-professional studies.
Boiman's Career Statistics
| | G-GS | Solo | Asst. | Tot. | TL | PBU | Sacks | FR | FC |
| 1998 | 9-0 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0-0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 | 12-5 | 24 | 15 | 39 | 2-5 | 1 | 2-12 | 3 | 0 |
| 2000 | 11-9 | 31 | 27 | 58 | 8-41 | 0 | 3.5-34 | 0 | 1 |
| 2001 | 11-7 | 16 | 25 | 41 | 11-19 | 0 | 4.0-10 | 2 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 43-21 | 75 | 69 | 144 | 21-65 | 1 | 9.5-56 | 5 | 2 |
