Dec. 20, 2005
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State has been shut out in winning the Buck Buchanan Award, but on Tuesday Redbird senior Brent Hawkins became the second player in school history to be named the CollegeSportsReport.com Defensive Player of the Year, joining Boomer Grigsby, who won the same honor in 2002.
As a result, Hawkins headlined the 2005 CollegeSportsReport.com I-AA All-America team, which also recognized Laurént Robinson as a first team selection at wide receiver and Stafford Davis as a second team choice on the offensive line. The three honors now give Illinois State 19 all-America accolades this season.
Hawkins, who finished runner-up for the Buchanan and claimed the Gateway's Defensive Player of the Year award, finished the regular season leading all of Division I-AA in tackles for loss (26.5) and forced fumbles (7), while ranking second in sacks (17). His 17 quarterback sacks set the Illinois State and Gateway Conference single season records, while he also claimed the school mark for tackles for loss in a season with 26.5 and forced fumbles with seven. Hawkins has also been recognized as an all-American by the Walter Camp Foundation, The Sports Network, Associated Press and The Sports Xchange.
Robinson, the 2005 Gateway Offensive Player of the Year, ranks No. 1 nationally in yards per game (133.2) and No. 2 in catches per contest (7.8). He set league and school season marks with 1,465 receiving yards on a conference-tying best 86 catches. He posted six 100-yard receiving games, including two games of 200 yards or more, highlighted by his 292 receiving yards on 14 catches against Indiana State in the season finale. The Rockledge, Fla., native finished with 12 touchdown catches. To date, he has been an all-American selection by the Walter Camp Foundation, The Sports Network, the American Football Coaches Association, The Sports Xchange and Associated Press.
Davis, a four-year starter who started all 46 games of his collegiate career, blocked for the most prolific offense in Illinois State history. With Davis paving the way, the offense averaged 39.2 points per game and a league-best 40.7 points per conference game. The two-time All-Gateway First Team selection helped guide the `Birds to a league-best 477.5 total yards of offense per game, which ranked No. 4 nationally at the end of the regular season. He played 783 snaps on the season and led the team with 68 knockdowns. This is Davis' fourth all-America selection this season after being recognized by The Sports Network, the AFCA and Associated Press.
In total, there were 10 players representing the Gateway on the three all-America teams. The only other league member joining Hawkins and Robinson on the first team was Western Kentucky placekicker Chris James.
