NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State football standouts defensive standouts Charles Woods and Clayton Isbell got some good news on Tuesday, as they were named to the 2019 HERO Sports FCS Sophomore and Freshman All-America Team, respectively.
Woods followed up a strong freshman season by starting all 15 games at cornerback for the Redbirds to earn sophomore All-America honorable mention honors in 2019. The Dallas, Texas, native finished the season second in the MVFC with 17 passes defended behind teammate Devin Taylor. Â He totaled 48 tackles on the season, with four interceptions and 4.5 tackles-for-loss. His 13 pass breakups were second on the team and his four interceptions were also second. Woods saved his best for the FCS playoffs, where he recorded 14 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups to help the Redbirds advance to the quarterfinals.
Isbell earned freshman All-America honorable mention honors after putting together a stellar redshirt freshman season in 2019. The St. Charles, Illinois, native was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team after he saw action in all 15 games for the Redbirds as the team's primary nickelback. Isbell ended the season with 23 total tackles, and added two sacks, three tackles-for-loss and two interceptions on the year. He was also credited with two pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries in his first year in a Redbird uniform.
The duo follow in the footsteps of current teammates Andrew Edgar (freshman), Romeo McKnight and Drew Himmelman (sophomore) who earned All-America honors from HERO Sports FCS in 2018.
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