Juniors Dennis Butler, Jonathon Friend, Quincy Washington, and freshmen Stephen Carroll and Boomer Grigsby have all been named to the Gateway Conference Newcomer Team, announced Thursday.
Butler, a junior transfer from LA Valley Community College, was a mainstay on the Redbird special teams and in the defensive backfield this season. As a return specialist, Butler was third on the team in all-purpose yards compiling 746 yards. On defense the Chicago native recorded 48 stops.
Carroll, a native of OFallon, Ill., handled all of the Birds place-kicking duties. The true freshman led the team in scoring with 64 points on the season on 12 of 17 field goals and 28 of 29 extra points.
Friend, also a transfer from Blinn Junior College, ranked seventh on the Redbird defense in tackles recording 54 for the year. Of those 54 tackles, 37 were solo stops and 13 were for a loss.
Grigsby, hails from Canton, Ill., and led the Redbird defensive attack. A stalwart on defense, the redshirt freshmen recorded a team high 89 tackles on the season, which included three sacks.
Washington came to the Redbirds last spring, after spending the two previous seasons at Illinois. The Champaign Centennial alum was second on the team in rushing statistics with a toal of 479 yards. Washingtons 708 all-purpose yards and 42 points were both good for fourth on the team.
Indiana States Julian Reese was voted as the Gateways Newcomer of the Year.
