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The Redbirds and Eastern Washington were the only programs with
three first-team honorees. In addition, linebacker
Cameron Siskowic was named to the second team, giving the
Redbirds four players on the all-America team -- the most in school
history. ISU was one of four schools that had four players named to
the all-America squad, joining Furman, Grambling State and Hampton.
Davis, a four-year starter who started all 46 games of his
collegiate career, blocked for the most prolific offense in Illinois
State history. With Davis paving the way, the offense averaged 39.2
points per game and a league-best 40.7 points per conference game.
The two-time All-Gateway First Team selection helped guide the
'Birds to a league-best 477.5 total yards of offense per game, which
ranked No. 4 nationally at the end of the regular season. He played
783 snaps on the season and led the team with 68 knockdowns.
Hawkins, a 2005 Buck Buchanan Award finalist and the 2005 Gateway
Defensive Player of the Year, finished the regular season leading
all of Division I-AA in tackles for loss and forced fumbles, while
ranking second in sacks. His 17 quarterback sacks set the Illinois
State and Gateway Conference single-season records, while he also
claimed school marks with his 26.5 tackles for loss in a season and
seven forced fumbles. Hawkins was also named first team all-America
by the Walter Camp Foundation last week.
Robinson, the 2005 Gateway Offensive Player of the Year and 2005
Walter Payton Award candidate, ranks No. 1 nationally in yards per
game, with 133.2, and No. 2 in catches per contest, with 7.8. He set
league and school season marks with 1,465 receiving yards on a
conference-tying-best 86 catches. He posted six 100-yard receiving
games, including two games of 200 yards or more, highlighted by his
292 receiving yards on 14 catches against Indiana State in the
season finale. The Rockledge, Fla., native finished with 12
touchdown catches. Along with Hawkins, this is Robinson's second
all-America honor this year, as he previously received first-team
accolades from the Walter Camp Foundation.
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 Siskowic, another 2005 Buck Buchanan Award candidate and
first-team all-Gateway selection, was the conference tackle leader
with 132 stops, 37 more than the league's runner-up. He ranked third
in the conference in tackles for loss on the season with 14.5 and
led the Redbirds in tackles in 10 of the team's 11 games. The junior
ranks fourth nationally in tackles with 12 stops per game and also
No. 15 nationally in tackles for loss. He also posted 55 solo stops,
four sacks, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and a forced
fumble.
ISU was the only Gateway school represented on the first team,
but the league had six players on the entire team, including the
four Redbirds. Joining the Redbird contingent were Indiana State's
tight end Jamie Petrowksi on the third team and Youngstown State's
defensive back Codera Jackson on the second team.
Voting was conducted among I-AA sports information directors and
selected media, with nearly 100 ballots being cast.
[Todd Kober,
assistant athletics director, media relations,
Illinois
State University]
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