Football Bulks Up on Offensive Line on Signing Day
December 18, 2019 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State football head coach Mike Neu announced today that 15 student-athletes will join the Cardinal program beginning this spring or next academic year.
"It's a long time coming to finally get to this day, but it's exciting because we add so many pieces to the puzzle that are great young men," Neu said. "They come from great programs. A lot of guys are captains of their high school programs. It's great when you can add young men like that into the mix."
The 2020 early signing day class includes five offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, two linebackers, two running backs, two wide receivers, one safety and one athlete. The class features players from eight states – Indiana (six), Ohio (two), Missouri (two), Michigan (one), Illinois (one), Pennsylvania (one), Tennessee (one) and Wisconsin (one).
"This is the biggest group of offensive linemen that we've had during my time here – not only in numbers but size," Neu said. "As we know, it starts in the trenches. The big guys never get enough love. We feel strongly that they can play a number of different positions. They can play center, they can play guard, they can play tackle. They have all of the qualities you look for in offensive linemen coming into your program. It's really exciting to look at this group and think about the upside that they have."
The five incoming offensive linemen average 6-foot-5 in height and nearly 300 pounds.
Ball State concluded the 2019 season 5-7 overall and 4-4 in the Mid-American Conference. The Cardinals won the Bronze Stalk Trophy from Northern Illinois for the first time since 2008 and capped the year by knocking off MAC champion Miami for the Red Bird Rivalry Trophy, 41-27. Ball State led the conference in scoring (34.8 points per game) and total offense (463.0 yards per game). BSU's defense tallied 24 turnovers, which ranked 10th nationally.
Ball State opens the 2020 season on Thursday, Sept. 3 with a home game against Maine. Other non-conference games include trips to Michigan (Sept. 12) and Indiana (Sept. 19), as well as a home game against Wyoming (Sept. 26). The league schedule will be announced at a later date.
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.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
| Name | Position | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown (Previous School) |
| Markavun Brownlee | RB | 5-11 | 225 | Fr. | Elkhart, Ind. (Elkhart Central HS) |
| Ethan Crowe | OL | 6-5 | 305 | Fr. | Bargersville, Ind. (Center Grove HS) |
| Dalton Elrod | ILB | 6-3 | 230 | Fr. | Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead HS) |
| Brayden Evans | SAF | 6-1 | 200 | Fr. | Camby, Ind. (Mooresville, Ind.) |
| Latrell Fordham | WR | 6-2 | 180 | Fr. | Burton, Mich. (Davison HS) |
| Austin Hill | WR | 6-2 | 185 | Fr. | Muncie, Ind. (Yorktown HS) |
| Ryan Lezon | ATH | 6-1 | 220 | Fr. | Indianapolis, Ind. (Southport HS) |
| Tommy Lorincz | OL | 6-6 | 300 | Fr. | Avon, Ohio (Avon HS) |
| Donny Marcus * | RB | 5-11 | 190 | Fr. | Brownsburg, Ind. (Brownsburg HS) |
| Julian McBride | DL | 6-2 | 270 | Fr. | Cape Girardeau, Mo. (Chaminade College Prep) |
| Kevin Meeder | OL | 6-5 | 290 | Fr. | Portersville, Pa. (Seneca Valley HS) |
| Nate Pedraza | OLB | 6-3 | 240 | Fr. | Rolling Meadows, Ill. (Rolling Meadows HS) |
| Aaron Porter | OL | 6-5 | 315 | Fr. | Independence, Mo. (Truman HS) |
| Nathan Reichert | DL | 6-3 | 260 | Fr. | Lewistown, Ohio (Indian Lake HS) |
| Corey Stewart | OL | 6-6 | 300 | Fr. | Nashville, Tenn. (East Nashville HS) |
| * - joining team in 2020 spring semester |
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Mark Brownlee!
??@markavun6
?? Running Back
?? Elkhart Central High School (IN)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/qSQN96tkT0
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Ethan Crowe!
?? @EthannCrowe
?? Offensive Lineman
?? Center Grove High School (IN)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/Zj7rPf1RPg
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Dalton Elrod!
??@elrod_dalton
?? Inside Linebacker
?? Arrowhead High School (WI)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/RqUjfS02w1
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Brayden Evans!
??@b_evan_s
?? Safety
?? Mooresville High School (IN)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/Ydo77ZHnju
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Latrell Fordham!
??@TrellFordham10
?? Wide Receiver
?? Davison High School (MI)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/jUrqeynt8v
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Austin Hill!
??@Ach2525
?? Wide Receiver
?? Yorktown High School (IN)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/nMhmmZPNZ4
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Ryan Lezon!
??@ryan_lezon
?? Athlete
?? Southport High School (IN)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/deaTZgkBRe
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Tommy Lorincz!
??@tommy_lorincz
?? Offensive Lineman
?? Avon High School (OH)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/LOnC1XJfiy
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Donny Marcus!
??@donny_marcus
?? Running Back
?? Brownsburg High School (IN)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/6hOAnq6tAa
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Julian McBride!
??@julianMcBride14
?? Defensive Lineman
?? Chaminade College Prep (MO)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/fjDuM07ohP
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Kevin Meeder!
??@KevinMeeder
?? Offensive Lineman
?? Seneca Valley High School (PA)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/VrHKCfVJRg
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Nate Pedraza!
??@NatePedraza79
?? Outside Linebacker
?? Rolling Meadows High School (IL)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/C1L9CR65Hu
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Aaron Porter!
??@AaronPorter73
?? Offensive Lineman
?? Truman High School (MO)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/vUS9mRRWyt
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Nathan Reichert!
??@nreichert_34
?? Defensive Lineman
?? Indian Lake High School (OH)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/vIv8v8aumk
?? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) December 18, 2019
Welcome to Ball State, Corey Stewart!
??@CJS_02
?? Offensive Lineman
?? East Nashville High School (TN)#NSD20 | #WeFly20 pic.twitter.com/pI8Zv7xXsN
Players Mentioned
