For the second consecutive year, Illinois State linebacker Boomer Grigsby was named to The Sports Network First Team All-America Team, Monday, while teammate Ray Robinson claimed second team honors on the defensive line.
Grigsby, the two-time Gateway Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year, led the conference in tackles with 179, which also ranked No. 2 nationally in I-AA football. He also ranked No. 2 nationally in solo tackles after accumulating 109 in 2003. Grigsby tallied 110 tackles against Gateway opponents with double-digit tackles in each game.
Grigsbys 179 tackles also set the standard for Redbird juniors giving the Canton, Ill., native the freshman, sophomore and junior single-season tackle records at Illinois State. He has 451 tackles through three seasons and became only the fourth Redbird in the history of the program to amass 400 tackles in a career.
Robinson joined Grigsby on the all-America list. The Trenton, N.J., native set the Illinois State single-season quarterback sack record in 2003 with 14, while also tying the Redbirds career mark with 25 sacks during his four-year stint with the Birds. Robinson led the Redbirds in tackles for loss with 20 and led all ISU defensive linemen with 67 tackles, including 48 solos.
The Illinois State football program has produced at least one all-American player in 18 of its last 22 seasons. Over the last six seasons, the Redbirds have had 21 players honored from 10 different positions.
