Redbird linebacker Boomer Grigsby was put into an elite class of football players Monday when his name was added to the The Sports Networks Buck Buchanan Award list for the top national defensive player of the year in I-AA football.
Grigsby, a sophomore, compiled 179 tackles on the season breaking the mark of current assistant and former Redbird great Galen Scott. Scott had 175 tackles in 1998, also his sophomore campaign.
In his two seasons, Grigsby has claimed both the freshman and sophomore tackles record. The Canton, Ill., native finished with 108 solo stops, 16 tackles for loss, four sacks, two fumble recoveries and two fumbles forced.
The race for the top defensive player in I-AA football, as well as top player and coach, took a final step Monday as ballots were mailed to all voters. Sent to media and I-AA sports information directors selected for the voting process, the ballots will be due December 2.
Including Grigsby, two other new names were added to the final list of 16 Buck Buchanan Award finalists. Northwestern States Roy Locks and Alabama A&Ms Robert Mathis, both defensive ends, were also selected as finalists.
2002 Buck Buchanan Award Finalists
Dante Balestracci, LB, Harvard
Stephen Cooper, LB, Maine
*Boomer Grigsby, LB, Illinois State
Josh Jeffries, DE, Appalachian State
Mark Kasmer, S, Dayton
*Roy Locks, DE, Northwestern State
Rashean Mathis, S, Bethune-Cookman
*Robert Mathis, DE, Alabama A&M
Dan Mulhern, LB, Delaware
Freddy Pesqueira, DT, Georgia Southern
Greg Pitts, LB, Southwest Texas
Hadley Prince, S, McNeese State
Nick Ricks, LB, Eastern Illinois
Lee Russell, LB, Western Illinois
Tracy White, LB, Howard
Trey Young, S, Montana
*finalists added 11/25/02
