Total of 10 Redbirds Earn Valley Football Honors

ST. LOUIS – A stellar group of five Illinois State football standouts highlighted a total of 10 Redbird football players who earned 2019 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Team honors on Monday in the annual vote of league head coaches, sports information directors and media.

The five first-team selections were tied for second-most with UNI behind league champion North Dakota State. With those five first-team honors, the Redbirds posted their most since the 2014 season when the Redbirds had six on the top squad.

For the third time in as many seasons, All-American running back and Walter Payton Award finalist James Robinson was named an All-MVFC First-Team selection. He was joined on the first team by offensive tackle Drew Himmelman, safety Luther Kirk, defensive back Devin Taylor and defensive end Romeo McKnight. Senior linebacker Ty DeForest earned his first MVFC honors as a second team selection, while the quartet of defensive lineman John Ridgeway, offensive lineman Adam Solomon, placekicker Sam Fenlason and longsnapper Paul Monaco were each selected as honorable mention picks.

FIRST-TEAM SELECTIONS (Bios complete through regular season):
James Robinson, 5-10, 225, Sr., Rockford (Ill.) Lutheran HS
Started all 12 games at tailback for the Redbirds … led the conference in rushing yards (1,316) and yards per game (109.7) was second in the league in rushing touchdowns (15) and scoring (90 points) … recorded six 100-plus yard rushing efforts, including a season-high 180-yard performance in a win over Indiana State … scored multiple touchdowns in five contests, including three games with three each … averaged 5.0 yards per attempt on the year, with a long run of 77 yards that went for a score … currently ranks No. 7 in the FCS in rushing yards, No. 9 in touchdowns and No. 10 in yards per game.

Drew Himmelman, 6-10, 315, OL, Jr., Geneseo (Ill.) HS 
Two-time MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week … started all 12 games at left tackle for the Redbirds … graded out at over 90 percent for the season … led way for the league's leading rusher in James Robinson, who recorded 1,316 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground … earned MVFC Lineman of the Week honors after the Redbirds rushed for 254 yards and three scores … earned second MVFC weekly award after helping ISU rush for 287 yards in a win over Indiana State.

Devin Taylor, 6-2, 200, Jr., Lansing (Mich.) Sexton HS
Started all 12 games at cornerback for the Redbirds … led the MVFC with 19 passes defended and ranks No. 6 in the FCS in passes defended with 1.6 per game … led ISU and tied for fifth in the MVFC with three interceptions … paced the team and the conference with 16 pass breakups and was fifth on the team with 50 stops on the year … had a career-high 10 tackles and an interception in a win at Western Illinois … named the MVFC Defensive Player of the Week after he recorded his team-leading third interception and finished with a career-high five pass breakups in a win over Missouri State.

Luther Kirk, 6-2, 200, Sr., Garland (Texas) HS
Started all 12 games at strong safety for the Redbirds … team captain … led the team with 74 tackles on the season, with 55 solo stops … also finished the year with six pass breakups, two sacks, three TFLs  and a forced fumble … had a career-high 10 tackles and two pass breakups against No. 9 UNI … tallied a sack and seven tackles in a win at Western Illinois … posted TFLs in back-to-back wins over No. 4 South Dakota State and Missouri State … recorded the game-winning sack in a thrilling win over the Bears.

Romeo McKnight, 6-5, 260, Jr., Crystal Lake (Ill.) / Iowa
Started all 12 games at defensive end for the Redbirds … ranked fourth in the league with nine sacks and was fifth in TFLs with 12.5 … led ISU in both of those categories and also added 50 tackles, including 27 solo stops … was also credited with two forced fumbles and two pass breakups on the year … also led the Redbirds with eight quarterback hurries … recorded a season-high nine stops against UNI … recorded three sacks in a win at Southern Illinois and also had three TFLs and 2.5 sacks in a win at Eastern Illinois … posted at least one TFL in seven contests.

SECOND-TEAM SELECTION (Bios complete through regular season):
Ty DeForest, 6-0, 245, Sr., Marshall (Wis.) / Wisconsin
Started all 12 games at middle linebacker for the Redbirds … recorded career-highs in tackles (67), sacks (2) and TFLs (8) in his final season as the defensive signal caller … also recorded a pair of interceptions and broke up a pass … recovered a fumble as well, after being credited with five quarterback hurries … tallied a career-high nine tackles and a TFL in the win at No. 4 South Dakota State … had two TFLs and five stops in a win at Eastern Illinois … had a TFL in seven of eight games at one point in the season … tallied second interception of the season in the finale at Youngstown State.

HONORABLE MENTION SELECTIONS (Bios complete through regular season):
John Ridgeway, 6-6, 330, So., Bloomington (Ill.) HS
Started all 12 games at nose guard for the Redbirds, who ranked second in the conference in rushing defense (122.1) and first in sacks (43) … finished the season with 46 tackles, including 25 solo stops, and had three TFLs while often demanding double teams in the middle of the defensive front … also credited with two pass breakups and a forced fumble … posted a career-high nine tackles against No. 1 North Dakota State … had eight tackles and a TFL in the season opener at Northern Illinois … recorded a TFL and five tackles in the season finale at Youngstown State.

Sam Fenlason, 6-2, 225, Sr., San Diego (Calif.) / Idaho 
Was twice named MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week … finished the season 14-for-17 (.824) in field goal attempts … the 14 field goals were tied for second most in the league and his 82.4 percentage made was also second in the league … was a perfect 28-for-28 on extra point attempts to finish the season with 70 total points, good enough for seventh in the conference … earned first MVFC weekly honor after making 4-of-4 field goal attempts in a win over Northern Arizona … matched that effort with four makes in a win at No. 4 South Dakota State, including a career-long 46-yarder … ranks No. 14 in the FCS in field goal percentage.

Adam Solomon, 6-6, 325, Sr., Indianapolis (Ind.) / Illinois
Started all 12 games for the Redbirds, splitting time at three different positions in his first season after transferring from Illinois … graded out at over 90 percent for the season … helped lead the way for the league's leading rusher in James Robinson, who recorded 1,316 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.

Paul Monaco, 6-0, 195, Jr., Wheaton (Ill.) Warrenville South HS
Served as the team's primary long and short snapper in all 12 contests … was not credited with a bad snap during the season … recorded four tackles in punt coverage, including two in the Redbirds win at No. 4 South Dakota State … instrumental part of placekicker Sam Fenlason's success, who finished the season 14-for-17 (.824) in field goal attempts and 28-for-28 on extra point attempts for a total of 70 total points … helped JT Bohlken rank sixth in the league in punting average at 40.7.

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