Dec. 14, 2006
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -
The Illinois State football team has had Buck Buchanan Award candidates in each of the last five seasons and each year a Redbird has finished among the top five vote-getters, including senior linebacker Cameron Siskowic, who placed fifth for the honor presented to the top defensive player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. The award was won by Cal Poly's Kyle Shotwell Thursday night at a banquet held in Chattanooga, Tenn.
In addition, ISU head coach Denver Johnson finished 15th in the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, which was won by Jerry Moore from Appalachian State.
Siskowic follows former Redbird greats Boomer Grigsby and Brent Hawkins to finish in the top five of the voting process. Grigsby finished runner-up in 2003 and runner-up in 2002 and 2004, while Hawkins was runner-up last season.
Despite leading the Gateway Football Conference in tackles for a second straight season, winning the leagueÃf¢?TMs honor for top defensive player in 2006 and ranking second nationally with 11.85 tackles per game, Siskowic received votes on only 40 of the 112 ballots. He finished with 113 votes, including eight first-place tallies.
The San Diego, Calif., native finished with 154 tackles, including 75 solo stops. He also finished his final Redbird season with five tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks and two interceptions, while forcing three fumbles.
