April 13, 2004
University of Iowa senior defensive end Matt Roth has been named to the prestigious Playboy magazine pre-season all-America team.
Roth, a 6-4, 270 pounder from Villa Park, IL, becomes the 14th Iowa player ever named to the Playboy team. Just last year offensive lineman Robert Gallery and kicker Nate Kaeding were named to the team. Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz was also named Playboy’s pre-season 2003 Coach of the Year.
Roth was a first-team all-Big Ten selection by both the media and the coaches last year. Roth had 51 tackles last year and 16 tackles for a loss of 92 yards. He had 12 sacks for a minus 83 yards and forced four opponent fumbles. He led the Hawkeyes in both sacks and tackles for loss. Roth ranked second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in sacks and fifth in Big Ten tackles for loss.
Roth is also a candidate for the 2004 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award.
Iowa Playboy all-Americans
Alex Karras (DT) — 1957
Curt Merz (E) — 1959
Larry Ferguson (RB) — 1961
Karl Noonan (E) — 1964
Gary Snook (QB) — 1965
John Niland (OL) — 1965
Craig Clemons (DB) — 1971
Larry Station (LB) — 1985
Dave Croston (OL) — 1986
Tim Dwight (WR) — 1997
Jared DeVries (DT) — 1998
Nate Kaeding (PK) — 2003
Robert Gallery (OL) — 2003
Matt Roth (DE) — 2004
Iowa Playboy Coach’s of the Year
Forest Evashevski — 1957
Jerry Burns — 1965
Kirk Ferentz — 2003