Ball State University Athletics
Ball State Adds 22 Student-Athletes to the Football Program
February 04, 2016 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State football head coach Mike Neu announced today that 22 student-athletes will join the Cardinal program beginning this spring or next fall.
The 2016 signing day class includes seven defensive linemen, five offensive linemen, three wide receivers, two tight ends, two defensive backs, one linebacker, one quarterback and one running back. The class features players from eight states – Indiana (six), Ohio (six), Illinois (two), Maryland (two), Michigan (two), Missouri (two), Delaware (one) and Iowa (one).
“I'm very excited about the class we were able to put together,” Neu said. “Considering the circumstances with my arrival so late in the recruiting process, I feel the assistant coaches did a tremendous job. It takes some good people to pull this off, and I believe this class is the beginning of something special for us at Ball State.”
Ball State is poised to return six starters on offense and nine on defense for 2016. The Cardinals kick off their 2016 season the first weekend in September with a trip to Georgia State. Ball State's home opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 17 against Eastern Kentucky.
To reserve new season tickets, call the BSU ticket office at 1-888-BSU-TICKET Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2016 Ball State University Football Recruits
| Name | Position | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown (Previous School) |
| Lamar Anderson | DB | 5-10 | 179 | Fr. | St. Louis, Mo. (Christian Brothers College HS) |
| Chris Beech | OL | 6-1 | 302 | Fr. | Miamisburg, Ohio (Archbishop Alter HS) |
| T.J. Beltavski | OL | 6-1 | 287 | Fr. | Strongsville, Ohio (Cleveland Benedictine HS) |
| Frank Burton III | DL | 6-1 | 254 | Fr. | Bear, Del. (William Penn HS) |
| Chris Crumb* | DL | 6-1 | 260 | Fr. | Lewis Center, Ohio (Olentangy HS) ***mid-year |
| Nolan Givan | TE | 6-3 | 236 | Fr. | Berkley, Mich. (Berkley HS) |
| Damon Hazelton Jr. | WR | 6-2 | 205 | Fr. | Baltimore, Md. (Franklin HS) |
| James Jennette III | DL | 6-3 | 215 | Fr. | Florissant, Mo. (Hazelwood West HS) |
| Tyler Kirtz | WR | 6-1 | 186 | Fr. | Brownsburg, Ind. (Brownsburg HS) |
| Dylan Koch | TE | 6-4 | 220 | Fr. | Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield East HS) |
| Mitch Larsen | DB | 5-11 | 180 | Fr. | Fairfield, Ohio (Fairfield Senior HS) |
| Donald Manning | DL | 6-2 | 225 | Fr. | Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield East HS) |
| Brandon Martin | RB | 6-0 | 245 | Fr. | Indianapolis, Ind. (Lawrence North HS) |
| Dominick Mathis | OL | 6-2 | 322 | Fr. | Indianapolis, Ind. (Warren Central HS) |
| Reggie McGee* | DL | 6-2 | 230 | Jr. | Baltimore, Md. (Hartnell College) ***mid-year |
| Wyatt Plate | WR | 5-9 | 170 | Fr. | Jackson, Mich. (Lumen Christi HS) |
| Drew Plitt | QB | 6-2 | 213 | Fr. | Loveland, Ohio (Loveland HS) |
| Kaleb Slaven | OL | 6-3 | 254 | Fr. | Muncie, Ind. (Delta HS) |
| John Swisher* | DL | 6-2 | 277 | Jr. | Des Moines, Iowa (Iowa Western CC) ***mid-year |
| Jaylin Thomas | LB | 6-1 | 212 | Fr. | Lima, Ohio (Lima Senior HS) |
| Anthony Todd | OL | 6-3 | 325 | Fr. | Yorktown, Ind. (Yorktown HS) |
| Kyle Williams | DL | 6-3 | 262 | Fr. | Indianapolis, Ind. (Southport HS) |
| Asterisk (*) denotes 2015-16 mid-year additions |
