Senior TJ Jackson, juniors Dwayne Smith and Michael Souza along with freshmen Stafford Davis, Brandon Allen and Troy Maskel have all been named to the 2002 Gateway Football Conference All-Newcomer Team, announced by the league office Monday.
Jackson, a native of Boyton Beach, Fla., tallied 84 tackles on the year including two TFLs for eight yards. A transfer from Virginia Tech, Jackson completed his collegiate eligibility this year with the Redbirds.
Smith, a Rantoul, Ill. native, transferred to Illinois State from Illinois and became a key receiver for the Birds. Through 11 games, he notched 39 catches for 470 yards. His three touchdowns on the season ranked No.2 amongst all Redbird receivers.
Illinois States mainstay at quarterback, Souza was twice named Gateway Offensive Player of the Week in 2002. From Royal Oaks, Calif., he passed for 1404 yards on the year while rushing for 224 and five touchdowns. He ranks third in the Redbird record book in rushing yards on a season by a quarterback.
Davis, a 6-1, 273 lb. offensive lineman from Orange Park, Fla., was the only Redbird underclassman to be named a newcomer on the offensive side while Allen, a native of Plantation, Fla. and Maskel, from Ridge Farm, Ill., were both named on defense.
Joel Sambursky, Southern Illinois quarterback, was named Freshman of the Year while Muhammad Abdulqaadir, also of SIU, won the Newcomer of the Year honor. It was the first time in league history a school has swept both the honors. Twenty eight student-athletes were named to the 2002 Gateway All-Newcomer Team.
