By: Tony Thomas
At 6-4, 220, Andrew Luck of Houston Stratford had the size that college coaches covet in the quarterback position. He passed for over 7,000 yards and 53 touchdowns in his prep career for the Spartans.
2005 Season
Luck threw for 1530 yards and 6 TDs as the Spartans went 5-5.
2006 Season
The Spartans went 10-2, 1-1 in the playoffs. Luck threw for almost 3000 yards (2909) and 27 touchdowns. They defeated Houston Chavez 35-16, but lost to Cypress Falls the following week by one point 34-33.
2007 Season
The Spartans went 9-4 and 2-1 in the playoffs, beating Houston Chavez 38-7 and Cypress Falls 43-34, before falling to FB Clements 31-27.
Luck passed for 2588 yards and 20 TDs.
He was rated the #3 Pro-Style quarterback and a 4-star recruit in the 2008 class, according to 247sports.com. Luck was a 2nd Team 5A All-State selection and a Top 100 player in Texas.
He had scholarship offers from Stanford, Alabama, Northwestern, Purdue, and Rice. He signed with Stanford and moved out west to play for Jim Harbaugh and later David Shaw.
Playing in Palo Alto
Luck redshirted in 2008 and won the starting job in 2009, throwing for 2575 yards, 13 TDs, and 4 INTs.
In 2010, he would have a breakout year:
- 3338 passing yards (Led the NCAA)
- 32 TDs (Led the NCAA)
- 8 INTs (in 372 pass attempts)
- 70% completion percentage
- Accounted for 5 touchdowns vs Wake Forest
- Named PAC-10 Offensive Player of the Year
Luck led Stanford to an 11-2 record in 2011, and he brought home some hardware and accolades as well:
- 3517 yards passing
- 37 TDs
- 10 INTs (in 404 pass attempts)
- Accounted for 4 TDs vs UCLA
- PAC 12 Offensive Player of the Year
- Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner
- Maxwell Award winner
- Walter Camp Player of the Year
Luck posted a 31-8 record as the starter for the Cardinal and was twice the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. A two-time All-American, he passed for 9430 yards, 82 touchdowns, and 22 INTs in his career at Stanford.
A Short NFL Career
Luck was drafted #1 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2012 NFL Draft. He passed for 23,671 passing yards, 171 TDS, 83 INTs, and 60% completion percentage in 86 games during his pro career. He was a 4-time Pro Bowl selection, played in 8 playoff games, and directed 20 game-winning drives.
At age 29, a lower leg injury and the lack of progress in the rehab process was enough for Luck to call it quits and retire from an NFL career full of promise and distinction after just seven seasons.
Andrew Luck is ranked among the 10 Greatest Quarterbacks in Texas High School Football History, according to USA TODAY High School Sports.
