Illinois States Boomer Grigsby received his third and fourth all-America team honor when he was recognized by both the Associated Press and CollegeSportsReport.com as a first team selection.
The AP team, which was released Wednesday to print media outlets, also recognized the Redbirds Ray Robinson as a second team selection on the defensive line. In addition to Grigsby, Gateway Football Conference players Buster Ashley, an offensive lineman from Western Kentucky, and Alexis Moreland, a defensive back from Southern Illinois, also received first team honors from the Associated Press.
With his two latest honors, Grigsby becomes the most decorated Redbird football player in the history of the program. In the last two seasons, Grigsby has been named to six first team all-America teams, topping former punter Mike McCabes five first team honors.
Grigsby was one of two Gateway players to receive first team honors from CollegeSportsReport.com, a full-service intercollegiate athletics internet news source managed by Brad Dopke. Offensive lineman Ben Deike from Northern Iowa was the other.
The two-time Gateway Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year led the league 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 him 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. The Canton, Ill., native is also 129 tackles away from passing current assistant coach Galen Scotts school record career tackle mark of 579.
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.
