Thirty-two student-athletes, including Illinois States Stephen Carroll and Stafford Davis, highlight the 2004 Gateway Conference all-academic team, announced by the league office Monday.
Carroll, from OFallon, Ill., garnered first-team honors for the second straight season for his level of excellence in the classroom and on the field. Davis, a three-year starter on the offensive line, earned honorable mention accolades as a first time member of the All-Gateway Academic Team.
In 2004, Carroll claimed the Illinois State career scoring record by finishing the season with 271 career points. The Redbird placekicker also claimed the school record for career field goal percentage with a 70.9 percent accuracy during his career. In the season opener against Saint Xavier, Carroll set the school standard with 86 consecutive PATs. Carroll carries a 3.52 GPA and is majoring in public relations. He is a two-time member of the Deans List and has been an AFNI Athletics Honor Roll member every semester at Illinois State.
Davis started all 11 games for the Redbirds this season and has started all 34 games in his career. The native of Orange Park, Fla., led the team with 140 knockdowns, while only having three missed assignments all season. In two games, Davis recorded 20-plus knockdowns. Davis is majoring in business administration and has a 3.04 grade point average.
Nominees must be starters or important reserves with at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average (4.0 scale). Student-athletes must have reached sophomore academic and athletic standing at their institutions (freshmen are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at their institution. League sports information directors voted on the team by designating 11 players for first-team honors and 11 players for second-team honors.
