Ball State University Athletics
Four Football Players Get Chance at NFL Rosters
May 07, 2007 | Football
Four senior members of the 2006 football team -- Erik Keys (Indianapolis, Ind./Broad Ripple H.S.), Terry Moss (Huber Heights, Ohio/Wayne H.S.), Michael Hay (Coldwater, Ohio/Coldwater H.S.) and Brian Jackson (Dothan, Ala./Northview) -- have been given a chance to make a National Football League roster.
Keys and Moss have signed free agent contracts with the Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions, respectively, while Michael Hay and Brian Jackson were invited to the Chicago Bears Mini Camp as tryout players.
Keys was an All-Mid-American Conference Second-Team choice last season after starting all 12 games for the Cardinals and leading the team with 90 tackles. Keys also tallied four tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and recovered four fumbles in 2006.
Moss started 11 games for Ball State and registered 27 catches for 685 yards with eight touchdowns. His 25.4 yards per catch led the team, while Moss also led the Cardinals with 103.0 all-purpose yards per contest. In addition to an 81-yard pass reception for a touchdown in 2006, Moss was credited for touchdowns in his career on a blocked punt and a kick return.
Hay spent his Ball State career as the team's longsnapper on punts, field goals and extra point attempts. He played in all 46 games in his four seasons.
Jackson, who was one of 20 semifinalists for the 2006 Lou Groza Award which goes to the nation's top placekicker, made 17-of-19 field goals last fall, including a long field goal of 52 yards vs. Indiana. In addition, he made 37-of-38 extra point kicks, and made 15 of his final 16 field goal attempts in 2006. Jackson was named the MAC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2006 after completing his Ball State career as one of the most efficient kickers in school history. Jackson set the Ball State career record for extra points with 111 plus was second for most points scored with 258. In addition, his 49 career field goals ranks as the third best effort in Ball State history.
