From Prep to Pro!, EST 2001
Bookmark and Share

  2023 CFB/2024-2027 Draft Scout

- Draft Scout Front Page - 2023 CFB Week 4 - 2023 CFB Week 3 - 2023-2027 FBS/FCS Team Lists/Rosters - 2024 Top 100+ Small School Prospects
(08/01/23) by Josh Buchanan - 2023 NFL Draft Tracker/Results - 2023 Undrafted by Position - 2023 Pro Timing Days/Results - 2023 Pro Timing Day Risers by Position - Draft Scout Evolve: Player Rating Changes - 2023 NFL Combine - Draft Scout CFB Risers - Draft Scout CFB Fallers - 2023 NFL Draft Underclassmen - 2023-26 #1 Georgia Bulldogs - 2023-26 #3 TCU Horned Frogs - 2022-23 CFB Bowl Schedule - EA College Football Game Pushed Back to 2024 - CFB Schedule/Roster/News Links - CFB Player News & Notes - CFB Player Injury News & Notes - CFB Injuries by Year/Position - Frank Cooney's NFL Draft News   Player Rankings by Conference: -ACC- | -American Athletic- | -Big 12- | -Big Ten- | -Conference USA- | -Independent- | -Mid-American- | -Mountain West- | -Pac-12- | -SEC- | -Sun Belt- - Draft Scout Player Directory A-Z - Players by School/College List A-Z - CFB's Best Player Names By Year/Position - Draft Scout Rokfin Football Channel - Draft Scout Weekly - Phil Steele/Draft Scout - Contact Draft Scout

  NFL Draft Scout History

- 1997 Coach Bill Walsh Draft Insider (First/Early NFL Draft Scout)
NFL Draft Scout Alumnus


2022 Draft Scout

- 2022 NFL Draft Tracker - Frank Cooney's 2022 NFL Draft Overview - Frank Cooney's 2022 Top 100 Overall - Frank Cooney's 2022 Ratings by Position - Frank Cooney's Top 750 (Pro Football Hall of Fame) - Josh Buchanan's Top Small School Prospects - Paul Duncan's 2022 First Round Mock Draft - Paul Duncan's Top 10 FCS Quarterbacks - 2022 Pro Timing Days/Results - 2022 Pro Timing Day Risers by Position - 2022 NFL Combine/Results - 2022 NFL Combine Risers by Position - 2022 NFL Draft Underclassmen - 2021 Spring FCS Schedule/Team Roster/News Links - 2021 Draft Scout Top 100 - 2021 Top 100 Small School Prospects
by Josh Buchanan

  Draft Scout by Conference

  Player Rankings by Conference: -ACC- | -American Athletic- | -Big 12- | -Big Ten- | -Conference USA- | -Independent- | -Mid-American- | -Mountain West- | -Pac-12- | -SEC- | -Sun Belt-

By Division: -FBS- | -FCS- | -Division 2- | -Division 3- | -NAIA-


  2023 Draft Scout Offense

QB | Quarterback RB | Runningback FB | Fullback-HBack TE | Tight End WR | Wide Receiver OC | Center OG | Guard OT | Tackle PK | Kicker

  2023 Draft Scout Defense

DE | Defensive End DT | Defensive Tackle ILB | Middle Linebacker OLB | Outside Linebacker CB | Cornerback FS | Free Safety SS | Strong Safety PT | Punter LS | Longsnapper

  2022 Draft Scout Offense

QB | Quarterback RB | Runningback FB | Fullback-HBack TE | Tight End WR | Wide Receiver OC | Center OG | Guard OT | Tackle PK | Kicker

  2022 Draft Scout Defense

DE | Defensive End DT | Defensive Tackle ILB | Middle Linebacker OLB | Outside Linebacker CB | Cornerback FS | Free Safety SS | Strong Safety PT | Punter LS | Longsnapper







 Draft Scout College Football Player News: Illinois State
Previous 15 Notes Next 15 Notes


  2022 BUCK BUCHANAN AWARD WINNER: The team awards handed out after Illinois State's spring practice were a direct reflection on outside linebacker Zeke Vandenburgh and foreshadowed his 2022 season. Amid the list of award winners who were mostly a newcomer to the program and younger players seeking to earn more playing time was Vandenburgh, a redshirt senior who by that point was a two-and-a-half-year starter. He was named Defensive MVP...for practice. Vandenburgh saved his best for last in so many ways, and his dominating play led to him receiving the 2022 Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the national defensive player of the year in FCS college football.

William & Mary redshirt sophomore outside linebacker John Pius finished second in the voting and Central Arkansas sophomore defensive end David Walker third after a 54-member panel selected the 28th annual award – named for legendary defensive lineman Junious "Buck" Buchanan, who starred at Grambling State as part of his Hall of Fame career. The announcement was made Saturday night at the FCS National Awards banquet in Frisco, Texas. Vandenburgh, 23, from Freeport, Illinois, was the Missouri Valley Football Conference's defensive player of the year. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound All-American missed one game with a leg injury yet still racked up 100 tackles (51 solos), 21 tackles for loss (120 yards) and an FCS-leading 14 sacks with one interception, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and four QB hurries. He helped coach Brock Spack's team finish with a winning record by posting a career-high 17 tackles against Western Illinois in his final college game. - STATS FCS Football

rSr/2023 OLB Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State
News Source: STATS FCS Football
Share/Comment: Here


  2022 ALL-MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM: LB Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State, Sr.,...In a season where he was named the league's defensive player of the week four times, Vandenburgh stood out in a league full of great defensive players. He started all 10 games he played in at outside linebacker and ranked No. 1 in the FCS in sacks per game and tackles-for-loss per game. The defensive captain led the MVFC in sacks (14.0), tackles-for-loss (21.0) and was third in the league in tackles (100) during the regular season and recorded three or more sacks in three different games, including in the final two games of the season. Vandenburgh also finished the final two games of the year with 4.0 tackles-for-loss and had three-plus tackles-for-loss in five contests. He posted six double-digit tackle efforts, including a career-high 17 in the finale against Western Illinois, when he also recorded a career-best 3.5 sacks. - Illinois State Football

rSr/2023 OLB Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State
News Source: Illinois State Football
Share/Comment: Here


  2022 ALL-MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM: OL Drew Bones, Illinois State, Sr.,...Bones capped off his stellar career as a member of the Redbird offensive line with All-MVFC honors for the first time in his career. The Ottawa, Kansas, native started all 11 games at center for the Redbirds and led the offensive line with grades over 80 percent in eight of 11 contests. He graded out the highest of all Redbird lineman throughout the regular season and was named the MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week, after not allowing a sack at Northern Iowa and helping the Redbirds outgain the Panthers by a total of 409-366 overall. - Illinois State Football

rSr/2023 OG Drew Bones, Illinois State
News Source: Illinois State Football
Share/Comment: Here


  2022 ALL-MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION: TE Tanner Taula,...Taula also saved his best season for his last, earning honorable mention honors in his sixth and final season in a Redbird uniform. The Independence, Missouri, native started nine games at tight end for ISU before missing the final two games of the season due to injury. He ranked third on the team with 26 receptions and 284 yards and averaged 10.9 yards per catch on the season. Taula recorded a career-high seven catches for 63 yards in a win over UNI and tallied a touchdown catch in a victory over South Dakota. - Illinois State Football

rSr/2023 TE Tanner Taula, Illinois State
News Source: Illinois State Football
Share/Comment: Here


  2022 ALL-MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION: FB Bryson Deming,...A 2021 MVFC All-Newcomer Team selection, Deming ended his Redbird career earning honorable mention all-league honors. The Billings, Montana, native earned a spot on the list at his fullback/tight end combination position for the Redbirds and he ranked second on the team with two touchdown receptions. He ranked fourth on the team with 22 catches for 144 yards and was a key member of the protection unit that allowed the fifth-fewest sacks in the league. - Illinois State Football

rSr/2023 TE Bryson Deming, Illinois State
News Source: Illinois State Football
Share/Comment: Here


  2022 ALL-MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION: DB Deandre Lamont,...Rounding out the All-MVFC honors for the Redbirds was newcomer Deandre Lamont, who picked up all-league honors in his first season with the Redbirds after transferring from Central Arkansas. The Baytown, Texas, native ranked third on the team with 68 tackles and finished the year with two sacks and three tackles-for-loss. He also added an interception and three pass breakups in the Redbird secondary and posted a season-high 10 tackles against Southern Illinois. Lamont also recorded a sack and eight tackles in a win at UNI and was credited with five-plus tackles in 9-of-11 of the team's games. - Illinois State Football

rSr/2023 FS Deandre Lamont, Illinois State
News Source: Illinois State Football
Share/Comment: Here


  2022 MISSOURI VALLEY FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: LB Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State, 6-3, 235, Sr., Freeport, Illinois (Freeport High),...Zeke started all 10 games played in at outside linebacker and ranked No. 1 in the FCS in sacks per game and TFLs per game. He led the MVFC in sacks (14.0), TFLs (21.0) and was third in the league in tackles (100). The four-time MVFC Defensive Player of the Week recorded three sacks in three different games, including in the final two games of the season. He also finished the final two games of the year with 4.0 TFLs and had three-plus TFLs in five contests. He posted six double-digit tackle efforts, including a career-high 17 in the finale against Western Illinois, when he also recorded a career-best 3.5 sacks. - Missouri Valley Football

rSr/2023 OLB Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State
News Source: Missouri Valley Football
Share/Comment: Here


  NOV 21 MISSOURI VALLEY DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: LB Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State, 6-3, 235, Sr., Freeport, Illinois (Freeport HS),...In a season that has been filled with superlatives, senior linebacker Zeke Vandenburgh saved his best performance of his career for his final game in a Redbird uniform. The Freeport, Illinois, native set career highs with 17 tackles and 3.5 sacks and tied a career-best with 4.0 TFLs against the Leathernecks. It marked his second-straight game with 3 sacks or more and marked his third performance of the year with 3 or more sacks. Vandenburgh also a forced a fumble on one of the sacks of WIU quarterback Henry Ogala. - Missouri Valley Football

rSr/2023 OLB Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State
News Source: Missouri Valley Football
Share/Comment: Here


  NOV 21 MISSOURI VALLEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE: QB Tommy Rittenhouse, Illinois State - Rittenhouse led the Redbirds to an overtime win over Western Illinois. The Geneva, Illinois, native scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime for the Redbirds and picked up his first win as a starter at ISU. On a windy and cold day at Hancock Stadium, Rittenhouse completed 13-of-22 pass attempts for 77 yards and also rushed 30 yards on the ground. Late in the game, a couple of great runs set up a potential game-winning field goal as time expired, but it was his call to pull the ball down and run 8 yards for a touchdown in OT that secured the Redbird victory over the Leathernecks. - Missouri Valley Football

rSo/2026 QB Tommy Rittenhouse, Illinois State
News Source: Missouri Valley Football
Share/Comment: Here


  Illinois State quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse ran for an 8-yard touchdown in overtime to help the Redbirds beat winless Western Illinois 20-13 on Saturday. The Redbirds started overtime with the ball. Rittenhouse faked a handoff and raced to the right side with no defenders in front of him before diving into the end zone. Illinois State DL Josh Dinga batted down a pass in overtime to force a fourth-down attempt from the 25-yard line and Dinga sealed it with a game-winning sack. Rittenhouse was also 13-of-22 passing for 77 yards with an interception for Illinois State (6-5, 4-4 Missouri Valley Conference Football). Erin Collins led Western Illinois (0-11, 0-8) with 33 carries for 163 yards and a touchdown. It was the program's most yards rushing since Steve McShane had 155 against Northern Arizona in 2016. - AP College Football

rSo/2026 QB Tommy Rittenhouse, Illinois State
News Source: AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here


  NOV 14 MISSOURI VALLEY PLATER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE: LB Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State - The top-ranked Jackrabbits had a hard time slowing down the Redbird senior, who set a career-best with four tackles for loss and tied his career high with three sacks, matching the mark he set earlier this season against Valparaiso. He also recorded the first interception of his stellar career at Illinois State, while finishing with 10 total tackles and a pass breakup against the Jacks. With that performance, he upped his season totals to a MVFC leading 10.5 sacks and 17.0 TFLs. - Missouri Valley Football

rSr/2023 OLB Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State
News Source: Missouri Valley Football
Share/Comment: Here


  OCT 24 MISSOURI VALLEY NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK: QB Zack Annexstad, Illinois State, 6-2, 220, Jr., Norseland, Minnesota (IMG Academy/Minnesota),...Annexstad put together his best day as a Redbird and led his team to a gritty 27-21 road win at Indiana State. The transfer from Minnesota completed 24-of-38 pass attempts for a career-best 274 yards and accounted for four touchdowns for the Redbirds in their victory over the Sycamores. Annexstad scored twice on the ground on runs of nine and three yards, respectively, and threw a pair of touchdowns passes in the win for Illinois State. His first TD pass of the day was a 56-yarder to Jalen Carr and his second was an 18-yarder to his older brother, Brock. Annexstad and the Redbirds scored on each of the team's first three possessions of the game and never looked back to improve to 5-2 on the year and 3-1 in league play. - Missouri Valley Football

rSr/2024 QB Zack Annexstad, Illinois State
News Source: Missouri Valley Football
Share/Comment: Here


  Zack Annexstad ran for two touchdowns and passed for another to his brother, Brock, in Illinois State's 27-21 victory over Indiana State on Saturday. The Redbirds (5-2, 3-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference) took a 20-0 lead in the first quarter on Annexstad's 9-yard run and his touchdown passes of 56 yards to Jalen Carr and 18 yards to Brock Annexstad. But they would need the quarterback's 3-yard run to cap a drive early in the fourth quarter to give them a 27-14 lead, enough to win despite Cade Chambers' 67-yard touchdown throw Dante Hendrix with just over 10 minutes remaining. The Sycamores (1-6, 0-4) drove from their own 7-yard line to the Illinois State 26 before Keondre Jackson made an end zone interception with four seconds left. Zack Annexstad was 24 of 38 for 274 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Wenkers Wright had 36 carries for 180 yards with Carr finishing with 99 yards receiving. Chambers was 14-of-33 passing for 201 yards, two TDs and a pick. Hendrix had 107 yards receiving. - Illinois State/AP College Football

rSr/2024 QB Zack Annexstad, Illinois State
News Source: Illinois State/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here


  OCT 17 MISSOURI VALLEY PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEE: PK Ian Wagner, Illinois State - Wagner continued his great start to the season and helped Illinois State to a big Homecoming win over South Dakota. Wagner connected on a pair of field goals and accounted for six of the Redbirds' 12 points in the win over the Coyotes. Wagner scored the first points of the game on a 37-yard field goal and also connected on a career-long 45-yarder in the contest for the Redbirds. With the two makes, Wagner is now 5-of-6 in just two games and leads the Redbirds in scoring with 17 points. - Missouri Valley Football

rSo/2026 K Ian Wagner, Illinois State
News Source: Missouri Valley Football
Share/Comment: Here


  Zack Annexstad threw for 180 yards and his team's only touchdown, leading Illinois State to a 12-10 victory over South Dakota on Saturday. Trailing 10-6 late in the third quarter, Annexstad threw to Jerome Buckner for 41 yards and a first down at the South Dakota 3-yard line. Three plays later Annexstad hit Tanner Taula with a 2-yard scoring pass and the Redbirds led 12-10 after the PAT was missed. South Dakota's Eddie Ogamba missed a 43-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter and neither team drove inside the opponent's 40-yard line the rest of the game. Shomari Lawrence had 75 yards rushing for South Dakota (1-5, 0-3 MVFC), which had 132 yards on the ground and 117 yards passing for a total of 249. Illinois State (4-2, 2-1) passed for 180 yards and ran for 84, a total of 264 yards total offense. - Illinois State/AP College Football

rSr/2024 QB Zack Annexstad, Illinois State
News Source: Illinois State/AP College Football
Share/Comment: Here

Previous 15 Notes Next 15 Notes






 BACK TO TOP

 Illinois State Football Videos

 Buy Draft Scout Weekly


** Draft Scout Data **
(Everything Online PLUS)

 Support Draft Scout

The Database Engine for NFLDraftScout.com, Draft Scout is being repurposed...Support the Future Development of ScoutNation.com...

 




 Draft Scout Archives


** 2010-2022 Draft Scout Archives **
(Yearly Player Data Exports, Prospect Lists & More)

 

 Draft Scout Future

100% Dedicated and Never Done
80% Innovated
45% Hidden
35% Built

Synergization