Illinois State seniors Vito Golson and Dennis Butler were each named to the 2002 Gateway Football Conference Preseason Team, Thursday, while sophomore Boomer Grigsby was named honorable mention.
The Redbirds were picked to finish sixth in the league preseason poll,
conducted by conference coaches, media representatives and sports
information directors.
For the 11th time since joining the league, Northern Iowa was picked to win the conference with 242 points, including 24 first-place votes. Youngstown State was second with 213 points and five first-place votes, Western Kentucky third (191, 2), Western Illinois fourth (160), Southwest Missouri State fifth (132, 1), Illinois State sixth (91), Indiana State seventh (68) and Southern Illinois eighth (55).
Golson, who led the Birds with 800 receiving yards in 2001, ranks fifth in career receiving yards at Illinois State. The St. Petersburg, Fla., native averaged 16.7 yards per catch and pulled in eight touchdown receptions last season.
Butler, who was named to the 2001 GFC All-Newcomer Team, is the fire plug of the Redbird secondary. The Chicago native also returns kicks for Illinois State. Butler ranked fifth in the GFC and No. 39 nationally last season in kickoff return average (23.57).
