Illinois State linebacker Boomer Grigsby was named The College Sporting News/I-AA.org Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday.
The junior from Canton, Ill. was one of five repeat selections from 2002. Grigsby was the lone Redbird and one of just four Gateway players to receive I-AA.org All-Star Team accolades. Western Kentuckys offensive tackle Buster Ashley and Western Illinois quarterback Russ Michna and outside linebacker Lee Russell were the others.
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. Grigsby is also 129 tackles away from passing current assistant coach Galen Scotts school record career tackle mark of 579.
I-AA.org is the leading news service of I-AA football. Each week during the regular season, I-AA.org awards national I-AA All-Star honors to selected student-athletes who exhibit exceptional performances. Following the season, I-AA.org awards national I-AA All-Star Team honors for offense, defense, specialists, Coach of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
I-AA.org was launched in 2001 as a division of College Sporting News, Inc. and is a news source for individuals, organizations and broadcasters who seek information about NCAA Division I-AA football.
