(Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri/Associated Press)
Key Players Returning:
QB Drew Pitt, RB Tye Evans, WR Justin Hall, WR Yo’Heinz Tyler, OG Curtis Blackwell, OG Jaylen Turner, OT Joseph Boggs, OT Kaleb Slaven, DE Jack Sape, LB Christian Albright, LB Clayton Coll, LB Jimmy Daw, LB Anthony Ekpe, LB Brandon Martin, LB Jaylin Thomas, CB Amechi Uzodinma, CB J.T. Wahee, FS Bryce Cosby, SS Brett Anderson, KR/PR Justin Hall, and PT Nathan Snyder.
Key Players Departing:
RB Caleb Huntley, WR Antwan Davis, CB Antonio Phillips, and PK Jack Knight.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: WR Chevy Brenson (St. Louis, Missouri), QB Kiael Kelly (Tampa, Florida), RB Rico Barfield (St. Louis, Missouri), OT Damon Kaylor (Michigan State transfer), CB Chayce Bishop (Tennessee transfer), TE Drayton Charlton-Perrin (Northbrook, Illinois), RB Rae’quin Lee (Southfield, Michigan), LB Jackson Wiegold (Vernon Hills, Illinois), CB Thailand Baldwin (Colonial Heights, Virginia), and S Jordan Marshall (St. Louis, Missouri).
2020 Results:
G01 at Miami, OH L 31-38
G02 EASTERN MICHIGAN W 38-31
G03 NORTHERN ILLINOIS W 31-25
G04 at Toledo W 27-24
G05 at Central Michigan W 45-20
G06 WESTERN MICHIGAN W 30-27
MAC vs. Buffalo W 38-28
BOWL vs. #22 San Jose State W 34-13
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 7-1 (MAC Champions)
Home: 3-0
Away: 2-1
Neutral: 2-0
MAC: 5-1
Non-MAC: 2-0
Head Coach: Mike Neu
Ball State: 22-34
Career: 22-34
Bowls: 1-0
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Drew Plitt (164-250, 2164 yards, 65.6%, 8.7 avg., 17 TD, 6 INT)
Rushing: Tye Evans (80 car., 360 yards, 4.5 avg., 2 TD)
Receiving: Justin Hall (49 rec., 665 yards, 13.6 avg., 4 TD)
TD’s Scored: Yo’Heinz Tyler (8)
Sacks: Anthony Ekpe (5)
Tackles: Brandon Martin (90)
Interceptions: Brett Anderson/Bryce Crosby (2)
Pass Deflections: Amechi Uzodinma (5)
Tackles For Loss: Anthony Ekpe (7)
Forced Fumbles: Anthony Ekpe (2)
Kick Returns: Justin Hall (12 ret., 295 yards, 24.6 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Jacob Lewis (2-3 fg/fga., 67%, 8-9 xp/xpa., 14 pts.)
Punting: Nathan Snyder (29 punts, 1265 yards, 43.6 avg., 4 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 9 Drew Plitt (RS SR)
RB: 30 Tye Evans (RS JR)
WR: 6 Yo’Heinz Tyler (SR)
WR: 11 Justin Hall (RS SR)
WR: 00 Jalen McGaughy (RS SO)
TE: 88 Dylan Koch (GR)
LT: 77 Kaleb Slaven (RS SR)
LG: 53 Jaylen Turner (RS JR)
OC: 72 Anthony Todd (RS SR)
RG: 62 Curtis Blackwell (RS SR)
RT: 79 Joseph Boggs (RS JR)
KR: 11 Justin Hall (RS SR)
PK: 46 Jacob Lewis (SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 00 Chris Agyemang (GR/TR)
NT: 67 Justen Ramsey (JR)
DE: 94 Jack Sape (RS JR)
LB: 27 Jimmy Daw (RS SR)
LB: 7 Brandon Martin (RS SR)
LB: 6 Jaylin Thomas (RS SR)
LB: 9 Christian Albright (RS SR)
CB: 14 J.T. Wahee (GR/TR)
CB: 3 Amechi Uzodinma (SR)
FS: 5 Bryce Cosby (RS SR)
SS: 23 Brett Anderson (RS SR)
PR: 11 Justin Hall (RS SR)
PT: 38 Nathan Snyder (SR)
Team Grades:
Offense:
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: A
Secondary: B
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: A
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
09/02 WESTERN ILLINOIS LEATHERNECKS | The series is tied 1-1. The Cardinals lost (14-24) the last meeting between schools in 2000.
09/11 at Penn State Nittany Lions | First meeting between schools.
09/18 at Wyoming Cowboys | First meeting between schools.
09/25 TOLEDO ROCKETS | Ball State trails the series 21-24-1. The Cardinals are 4-6 since 2011, and their last series loss (13-45) was in 2018.
10/02 ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS | The series is tied 3-3. The Cardinals lost (24-33) the last meeting between schools in 2014.
10/09 at Western Michigan Broncos | Ball State trails the series 21-26. The Cardinals are 4-6 since 2011, and their last series loss (31-35) was in 2019.
10/16 at Eastern Michigan Eagles | Ball State leads the series 36-24-2. The Cardinals are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series loss (20-42) was in 2018.
10/23 MIAMI (OH) REDHAWKS | Ball State trails the series 13-20-1. The Cardinals are 3-4 since renewing the series in 2012, and their last series win (41-27) was in 2019.
11/02 at Akron Zips | Ball State trails the series 11-12-1. The Cardinals lost (3-31) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
11/10 at Northern Illinois Huskies | Ball State trails the series 22-24-2. The Cardinals are 2-8 since 2011, and their last series loss (16-24) was in 2018.
11/17 CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS | The series is tied 26-26-1. The Cardinals are 6-4 since 2011, and their last series loss (44-45) was in 2019.
11/23 BUFFALO BULLS | Ball State leads the series 10-2. The Cardinals are 3-1 since 2011, and their last series loss (24-40) was in 2017.
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 4-4
Non-MAC: 2-2
Overall: 6-6 (4th in MAC West)
gridironpredictions.net 