Senior linebacker Boomer Grigsby earned another all-America honor Thursday when he was named to Don Hansens Football Gazettes 2004 NCAA I-AA Pre-Season All-America First Team Defense to highlight eight Illinois State all-America selections.
Grigsby, who was the sole Redbird and one of four Gateway Football Conference players on the first team, enters the 2004 season with 451 career tackles, which ranks No. 3 in the Redbird record books. With 49 more stops, Grigsby will become only the second player in Illinois State history to surpass the 500-tackle mark. He needs 115 to claim the conference record and 149 to pass the school record of 579 tackles by current assistant coach Galen Scott.
Redbird punter Ryan Hoffman, who helped lead the Birds nationally in net punting, claimed second team all-America honors on Hansens pre-season team. Seniors Jeremy Melville, Stephen- Carroll and Antwan Oliver and junior Mike Stegeman all earned third team honors, while Josh Chrestman and Stafford Davis each received honorable mention accolades.
Illinois State was also tabbed No. 40 in the Football Gazettes top 40 poll. The Redbirds, which are one of five Gateway teams in the poll, open the season on September 2 when they face Saint Xavier at Hancock Stadium.
