Nov. 20, 2006
PHILADELPHIA -
The official ballots for the 2006 Walter Payton and Buck Buchanan Awards were finalized on Monday and for the second straight year the Illinois State football team had representatives on each list. Both running back Pierre Rembert and linebacker Cameron Siskowic are one of 16 finalists for each award given to the top I-AA national offensive player and defensive player, respectively.
Siskowic, who was on the Buchanan watch list all season, was also a finalist for the award in 2005. The Redbird senior led the Gateway Football Conference in tackles for a second straight season with 130 stops, which also ranks second in I-AA football. Of his 130 tackles, 60 were solo and five were for a loss.
As ISU's leading rusher, Rembert was just added to the final ballot. With 1,507 rushing yards on the season, Rembert became only the second running back in ISU history to amass more than 1,500 yards in a season. He ranks No. 5 nationally with 137 rushing yards per game and has posted 15 rushing touchdowns on the season.
The top three finalists for the Walter Payton Award and the winner of the Buck Buchanan Award will be invited to attend the presentation at the 20th Annual I-AA College Football Awards, which will be held on December 14 in Chattanooga, Tenn., on the eve of the Division I Football Championship title game.
