For the third straight season Illinois State linebacker Boomer Grigsby received first team all-America honors from The Sports Network when he was named to the 2004 I-AA All-America Team Monday.
The Canton, Ill., native became just the fourth player in the history of the all-America team to garner three first team honors. Grigsby joins Villanova running back Brian Westbrook (1999-01), Alcorn State quarterback Steve McNair (1992-94) and Boise State defensive lineman Erik Helgeson (1988-90).
Grigsby was one of eight players from the Gateway Football Conference to be selected to the all-America team and one of three to be named to the first team, joining Southern Illinois offensive lineman Elmer McDaniel and SMS kicker Jon Scifres.
Grigsby, the only three-time defensive player of the year in conference history, capped off his storied career with the NCAA, Gateway and Illinois State career tackle records with 580 stops. This is the 12th post-season all-America honor of his career and the second this season after he was named to the Walter Camp All-America Team on Dec. 10.
Voting for The Sports Network I-AA All-America Team was conducted among I-AA sports information directors and selected media, with more than 100 ballots being cast.
