Boomer Grigsby became the first Illinois State football player to be selected in the National Football League Draft since 1990 when he was tabbed by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round Sunday afternoon.
Prior to Grigsby, the last Redbird drafted by the NFL was wide receiver Bill Miller, who was selected in the 10th round by the Detroit Lions in the 1990 draft. Grigsby becomes the 10th Redbird to be drafted by the NFL since the first combined AFL-NFL draft in 1967.
Im unbelievably enthusiastic that its over, Grigsby said. I can honestly say that geographically, and with the needs that Kansas City has, this couldnt have worked out any better for me. If I wasnt drafted and had to go through free agency, Kansas City would have been one of my top choices. So Im very happy right now with how it all worked out.
Not only is Kansas City geographically fairly close to Illinois State and his hometown of Canton, Ill., but Grigsby also has an aunt and uncle living in Kansas City.
The only three-time Gateway Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year was the eighth inside linebacker selected in the 2005 draft, the eighth player from Division I-AA and the second player selected from the Gateway Conference. As the 138th pick overall, Grigsby became the highest drafted Redbird since Clarence Collins was the 62nd pick in the 1984 draft of the San Diego Chargers.
As the most decorated player in Illinois State football history, Grigsby achieved the NCAA, Gateway and Illinois State career tackle records during his Redbird career with 580 career stops. He also garnered consensus all-America honors his last two collegiate seasons, including becoming just the fourth player to garner three first-team all-America honors from The Sports Network.
Grigsby also became the first player in I-AA history to ever finish in the top three in the Buck Buchanan Award voting three straight seasons, for the honor given to the divisions best defensive football player.
The Illinois State product reports to the Chiefs mini-camp on April 28 and Grigsby is obviously looking forward to it.
Im just going to go down there and be the best special teams player they have, Grigsby said.
