(WR Qian Magwood – USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
WR/PR Qian Magwood, OC Ethan Crowe, OG Jon Mucciolo, OG Taran Tyo, LB Keionte Newsom, CB Thailand Baldwin, KR Malcolm Gillie, and PK Jackson Corville,
Key Players Departing:
QB Layne Hatcher, RB Marquez Cooper, WR Ahmad Edwards, TE Brady Hunt (South Carolina transfer) OT Damon Kaylor, OT Corey Stewart (Purdue transfer, DE Sidney Houston Jr., DE Jack Sape, DE Mikhari Sibblis, LB Cole Pearce, CB Damion Charity, CB Red Potts, FS Aljareek Mairy, FS Jordan Riley-Scott (Kansas State transfer), SS Loren Strickland, and PT Lucas Borrow.
(QB Case Harrison – AP Photo)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: RB Braedon Sloan (Eastern Kentucky transfer), DT L’Cier Luter (Mission Viejo, California), QB Chase Harrison (Marshall transfer), LB Sam Feeney (Indianapolis, Indiana), RB DJ Williams (Youngstown, Ohio), OT Ryan Eldridge (Goshen, Indiana), CB Jordan Davis (Columbus, Tennessee), CB Myles Norwood (New Mexico State transfer), DT Ky Montgomery (Missouri transfer), and DE Riley Tolsma (Hillsdale College transfer).
2023 Results:
G01 @ Kentucky L 14-44
G02 @ #1 Georgia L 3-45
G03 INDIANA STATE W 45-7
G04 GEORGIA SOUTHERN L 3-40
G05 @ Western Michigan L 24-42
G06 @ Eastern Michigan L 10-24
G07 TOLEDO L 6-13
G08 CENTRAL MICHIGAN W 24-17
G09 @ Bowling Green L 21-24
G10 @ Northern Illinois W 20-17
G11 KENT STATE W 34-3
G12 MIAMI (OH) L 15-17
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 4-8 (5th in MAC West)
Home: 3-3
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 3-5
Non-MAC: 1-3
Head Coach: Mike Neu
Ball State: 37-56
Career: 37-56
Bowls: 1-1
(LB Keionte Newson – Bail State University Athletics)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Kadin Semonza (50-82, 480 yards, 61.0%, 5.9 avg., 3 TD, 5 INT)
Rushing: Charlie Spegal (15 car., 71 yards, 4.7 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Qian Magwood (41 rec., 358 yards, 8.7 avg., 1 TD)
TD’s Scored: Tanner Koziol (3)
Sacks: Keionte Newson (2.5)
Tackles: Keionte Newson (81)
Interceptions: Jordan Coleman (1)
Pass Deflections: Thailand Baldwin (5)
Tackles For Loss: Keionte Newson (6.5)
Forced Fumbles: Keionte Newson (1)
Kick Returns: Malcolm Gillie (14 ret., 304 yards, 21.7 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Qian Magwood (10 ret., 26 yards, 2.6 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Jackson Courville (15-21 fg/fga., 71%, 24 -25 xp/xpa., 69 pts.)
Punting: None
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 3 Kadin Semonza (RS FR)
RB: 38 Charlie Spegal (RS JR/TR)
WR: 5 Justin Bowick (JR/TR)
WR: 2 Ty Robinson (RS JR/TR)
WR: 16 Qian Magwood (RS JR)
TE: 88 Tanner Koziol (JR)
LT: 78 Yaser Al-Awadi (RS SO/TR)
LG: 64 Jon Mucciolo (GR/TR)
OC: 54 Ethan Crowe (SR)
RG: 77 Taran Tyo (RS SO)
RT: 73 Cole Mosier (RS SO)
KR: 8 Malcolm Gillie (SR/TR)
PK: 96 Jackson Courville (SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 57 Nathan Reichert (SR)
NT: 47 Drew Hughes (RS JR)
DE: 40 Riley Tolsma (GR/TR)
LB: 49 Justin Thomas (JR/TR)
LB: 9 Keionte Newson (SR)
LB: 21 Joey Stemler (RS JR)
NB: 19 George Udo (GR/TR)
CB: 10 Jahmad Harmon (RS SO/TR)
CB: 12 Thailand Baldwin (RS JR)
FS: 26 Jordan Coleman (RS SO)
SS: 33 DD Snyder (RS JR/TR)
PR: 0 Nick Munson (RS SO)
PT: 98 Carson Holmer (RS SO)
(QB Kadin Semonza – Ball State University Athletics)
Team Grades:
Offense:
Quarterbacks: C
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: C
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: C
Linebackers: B
Secondary: C
Special Teams:
Kick Returners: C
Punt Returners: D
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
09/07 MISSOURI STATE BEARS | First meeting between schools.
09/14 @ Miami (FL) Hurricanes | First meeting between schools.
09/21 @ Central Michigan Chippewas | Ball State leads the series 28-27-1. The Cardinals are 5-5 since 2014, and their last series loss (17-37) was in 2021.
09/28 @ James Madison Dukes | Ball State won (24-6) the only prior meeting between schools in 1997.
10/05 WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS | Ball State trails the series 22-28. The Cardinals are 3-7 since 2014, and their last series win (45-20) was in 2021.
10/12 @ Kent State Golden Flashes | Ball State leads the series 23-8. The Cardinals won (34-3) last season’s meeting between schools, and their last series loss (38-41) was in 2019.
10/19 @ Vanderbilt Commodores | First meeting between schools.
10/26 NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES | Ball State trails the series 24-25-2. The Cardinals are 4-6 since 2014, and their last series loss (29-30) was in 2021.
11/05 MIAMI (OH) REDHAWKS | Ball State trails the series 13-23-1. The Cardinals are 1-7 since restarting the series in 2016, and their last series win (41-27) was in 2019.
11/12 @ Buffalo Bulls | Ball State leads the series 11-2. The Cardinals won (20-3) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/23 BOWLING GREEN FALCONS | Ball State trails the series 9-22-1. The Cardinals are 1-2 since 2014, and their last series win (41-24) was in 2014.
11/29 @ Ohio Bobcats | Ball State leads the series 15-12. The Cardinals lost (18-32) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
Predictions:
Home: 2-3
Away: 1-6
Neutral: 0-0
MAC: 1-7
Non-MAC: 1-2
Overall: 3-9 (11th in MAC)
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