Ball State Recruiting Outlook

Ball State:

• Rontrell Peyton, Lackawanna C.C. (Scranton, PA), S, 5-10/185  
• Riley Neal, Yorktown (Yorktown, IN), PRO QB, 6-5/200  
• James Gilbert, Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, IN), RB, 5-10/190  
• Kevin Thurmon, Mount Carmel (Chicago, IL), DT, 6-3/255  
• Abdallah Jaffal, Fordson (Dearborn, MI), OLB, 6-2/200  
• Armani McNulty, Bolingbrook (Bolingbrook, IL), CB, 5-11/175  
• Morgan Hagee, Plainfield (Plainfield, IN), K, 5-10/150  
• Anthony Sheko, Simeon (Chicago, IL), S, 6-3/190  
• Grant Williamson, New Prairie (New Carlisle, IN), DT, 6-3/250  
• Clayton Cook, Wawasee (Syracuse, IN), WR, 6-2/185  
• Malik Dunner, Dundee-crown (Carpentersville, IL), ATH, 5-11/188  
• Kendall Quarles, Pebblebrook (Mableton, GA), S, 6-3/190  
• Blake Yager, Carroll (Fort Wayne, IN), OT, 6-5/270  
• Kenny Knight, East St. Louis (East Saint Louis, IL), DT, 6-1/264  
• Zach Ricketts, Bremen Senior (Bremen, IN), OT, 6-5/290  
• Andrew Poenitsch, Hamilton (Sussex, WI), OG, 6-4/285  
• Sean Hammonds, Ballard (Louisville, KY), TE, 6-3/215  
• John Whitman, Lackawanna C.C. (Scranton, PA), DT, 6-2/280  
• Danny Pinter, Adams (South Bend, IN), TE, 6-5/239  
• Corey Hall, Eastern Arizona College (Thatcher, AZ), CB, 5-10/180  
• Kyle Schrank, Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers, IN), TE, 6-3/210  

After a tough 2014 season, the Cardinals have struggled a bit in recruiting and currently sit with the 109th ranked recruiting class in the nation, putting them 8th in the MAC rankings. Ball State has 21 players committed to the program with players coming from eight different states. Indiana and Illinois make up 14 of the 21 recruits with only five total commits ranking 3-stars or higher.

The Cardinals ended the 2014 season with a 5-7 record that kept them ineligible for a bowl game last fall. A five-game losing streak that started with a close loss to Iowa and ended with a win over Central Michigan doomed the Cardinals chances at a winning record. The low point of the season was a 27-20 home loss to FCS program Indiana State on the celebration of the 1964 team's 50 year anniversary. The Cardinals did end the season on a good note with back to back wins over Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green to end at 5-7 with a 4-4 conference record.

Returning Starters (6 or more starts in 2014):
Defense (7):
Ayers, Michael (12 starts, DL), Holder, Tyree (12 starts, DB), Ingle, Ben (9 starts, LB), Noel, Keenan (8 starts, NT), Ryan, Zack (12 starts, LB), Smith, Darnell (12 starts, 3rd team All-MAC, DT), Taylor, Aaron (9 starts, DB)

Offense (12):
Bell, Steven (12 starts, OL), Brunner, Sam (10 starts, 1 catch, 4 yards, TE), Curry, Dylan (6 starts, 9 catches, 108 yards, 3 TD, TE), Harvey, Jeremiah (12 starts, OL), Mabon, KeVonn (10 starts, 3rd team All-MAC, 59 catches, 717 yards, 5 TD, WR), Mann, Ozzie (6 starts, 1,281 passing, 10 TD, QB), Milas, Jack (6 starts, 1,302 passing, 9 TD, 96 rushing, 2 TD, QB), Miller, Drake (8 starts, OL), Richard, Jacob (12 starts, 3rd team All-MAC, OL), Schlachter, Jalen (12 starts, OL), Shillings, Chris (8 starts, 28 catches, 293 yards, 1 TD, WR), Williams, Jordan (11 starts, 2nd team All-MAC, 56 catches, 753 yards, 6 TD, WR)