Israel Route Named To CollegeFootballNews.com Preseason Squad
Jul 6, 2006 | Football
July 6, 2006
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Tulane University football standout Israel Route garnered the team's first preseason honor of 2006 as the senior from Stone Mountain, Ga., was named to the CollegeFootballNews.com Preseason All-Conference USA second-team as a defensive back, the on-line publication announced Thursday.
A three-year letterman and returning starter out of Stephenson High School, Route is Tulane's top returning tackler from a year ago when he posted 40 stops, including two and half tackles behind the line of scrimmage totaling six yards lost. A difference maker in the return game as well, he tallied 181 yards on 18 punt returns and added 512 yards on 23 kickoff returns in 2005.
"If Izzy lives up to his potential, he has a chance to be a very good football player for us," Tulane head coach Chris Scelfo said. "He has developed into a solid player in his previous three years here, and he can become a leader for our football team."
Last season, Route led the team in both kickoff and punt return average, with marks of 21.9 and 10.1, respectively, and was the fourth leading tackler on the squad behind graduating seniors Anthony Cannon (114), Brandon Spincer (67) and Tra Boger (61). His punt return average ranked second in C-USA while his kick return average was eighth.
Route scored on a career-long 97-yard kick return - the ninth-longest return in school history - against Southeastern Louisiana (Oct. 1), and he also notched a career-best and team season-long 48-yard punt return against Marshall (Oct. 29). Route posted a season-best nine tackles, including seven solo stops, against UCF (Oct. 21) and added eight tackles against Rice (Nov. 12).
For his career, Route has 134 tackles (85 solo, 49 assists), including six for losses totaling 20 yards. He is credited with three quarterback hurries, 14 passes defensed and a pair of interceptions. As a return man, Route has averaged 9.5 yards on 19 punt returns and 21.9 yards and a touchdown on 24 kickoff returns.
Route and the Green Wave open the 2006 season on Saturday, Sept. 9, when they travel to The Lone Star State to battle C-USA foe Houston at 6 p.m. at Robertson Stadium. After three straight road games to open the year, Tulane will celebrate its return to the Louisiana Superdome on Saturday, Sept. 30, when the boys in olive green and sky blue take on league opponent SMU at 8 p.m. in a game that will be televised nationally on CSTV (College Sports Television).
For season ticket information, contact the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 861-WAVE. The Ticket Office is located on the first floor of the James W. Wilson, Jr. Center and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased on-line at www.TulaneGreenWave.com.
