LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Illinois State redshirt freshman cornerback Dion Starnes persevered through emotional and physical pain to earn a starting spot on the Missouri Valley champion and FCS National finalist ISU football team. As a result, Starnes was honored with the Mental Toughness Award, one of several awards presented at the National Football Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter Awards Ceremony Monday evening at Halas Hall.
The National Football Foundation Chicago Metro Chapter started presenting the Mental Toughness Award in 2012, with the first two honors going to Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa and Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish. Starnes is the second Redbird player to receive the honor, joining junior linebacker Pat Meehan, who earned the award last year.
Starnes, who is the first freshman to be honored with the award, was nominated by ISU head coach Brock Spack for his perseverance through emotional and physical struggles during his football career. He was Illinois State's starting cornerback until an ACL injury sidelined him in the season's tenth game on Nov. 15. In that contest, The Redbirds beat South Dakota, 45-26, for their ninth win of the season and Starnes recorded an interception. On the season, Starnes recorded 33 tackles, four pass breakups and a tackle for a loss.Â
He accepted the award in honor of his mother, Louise, who lost a battle with cancer in November of 2012, and his sister, Shirley, who is currently battling the disease. He also thanked his high school coach Dan Stell, who was in attendance at the event, as well as his coaches and teammates at Illinois State for their support through his journey.
The Illinois State football program was also honored for its success in 2014 and appearance in the FCS National Championship game. Spack accepted the award on behalf of all of the Redbird players, coaches, support staff, administration and faculty at Illinois State that helped the Redbirds achieve historic feats last season.
Redbird football signee Jamal Brown and his teammates and coaches from Phillips Academy were also recognized at the event, after playing in the IHSA Class 4A State Championship in November and nearly becoming the first-ever Chicago Public School to win the football state championship.
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