Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Cardinals Place 11 on Phil Steele’s Preseason All-MAC Football Teams
July 14, 2020 | Football
Ball State ranks second in league for most total selections and most first-team choices
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State's 11 preseason All-MAC selections and five first-team choices by Phil Steele's College Football Preview are tied for the second-most of any team in the league.
The annual publication comes out this week, previewing the 2020 season. Only Central Michigan (12) has more overall honorees on Steele's MAC teams than the Cardinals, while only Western Michigan (6) has more on the first team.
Here is a breakdown of the Cardinals recognized …
First Team
Caleb Huntley, Sr., RB: A second-team All-MAC choice last fall, Huntley led the league with 106.2 rushing yards per game, topping 100 yards in seven of eight conference games. With one year left to play, he already ranks ninth on the school's career rushing list with 2,465 yards.
Justin Hall, Sr., WR: A three-time All-MAC selection, the versatile Hall was named to the league's first team last fall. He led the Cardinals in catches (61) and receiving yards (684), while his eight total touchdowns were second only to Huntley's 12. The former freshman All-American ranks fifth in school history with 208 career catches.
Jaylin Thomas, R-Sr., LB: A third-team All-MAC choice last fall, Thomas enters his final season with 211 career tackles. He was second on the team last year with 97 stops, including double-digit totals in three of the final six games.
Antonio Phillips, Sr., DB: A first-team All-MAC cornerback last fall, Phillips was named this week to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the nation's most outstanding defensive player. Phillips ranked second in the league last year with four interceptions.
Amechi Uzodinma II, Jr., DB: Uzodinma was the only MAC player with more interceptions than Phillips last season, picking off five passes on his way to second-team all-league recognition. The cornerback's interception total ranked seventh nationally.
Second Team
Drew Plitt, R-Sr., QB: Plitt had a breakout year last fall in his first season as the Cardinal's full-time starter, leading the MAC with 24 touchdown passes. He ranked second in the league with 243.2 passing yards per game while directing the MAC's top offense in terms of both points and yards.
Curtis Blackwell, Sr., OL: A third-team All-MAC selection last fall, Blackwell started all 12 games at right guard for the league's top-rated offense. His 30 career starts are the most of any active BSU offensive player and second overall on the team behind only senior safety Bryce Cosby's 35.
Third Team
Chris Agyemang, Grad, DL: Agyemang was named to the list despite not yet playing a down for the Cardinals. The graduate transfer was a two-time first-team All-Northeast Conference selection for FCS program Sacred Heart. He racked up 5.5 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss last fall.
Christian Albright, Sr., LB: Albright enters his final collegiate season as Ball State's active leader in career sacks (11.0), tackles for loss (22.5) and forced fumbles (7). A third-team All-MAC selection two seasons ago, Albright led the Cardinals with 10.5 tackles for loss last fall.
Joseph Greenwood, Sr., LS: Greenwood serves as the Cardinals long snapper for both punts and field goals. He has played in all 36 games over the past three seasons.
Fourth Team
Kaleb Slaven, R-Sr., OL: Slaven is entering his fourth season as the Cardinals' starting left tackle. He started 10 games last fall for the top-rated offense in the MAC.
Ball State is scheduled to open the 2020 season on Thursday, Sept. 3 with a home game against Maine. Click here for information on football tickets for the upcoming season. The Cardinals return 16 total starters from a 2019 team that contended late into the season for a MAC West Division title and won key rivalry games over Northern Illinois and league champion Miami.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
The annual publication comes out this week, previewing the 2020 season. Only Central Michigan (12) has more overall honorees on Steele's MAC teams than the Cardinals, while only Western Michigan (6) has more on the first team.
Here is a breakdown of the Cardinals recognized …
First Team
Caleb Huntley, Sr., RB: A second-team All-MAC choice last fall, Huntley led the league with 106.2 rushing yards per game, topping 100 yards in seven of eight conference games. With one year left to play, he already ranks ninth on the school's career rushing list with 2,465 yards.
Justin Hall, Sr., WR: A three-time All-MAC selection, the versatile Hall was named to the league's first team last fall. He led the Cardinals in catches (61) and receiving yards (684), while his eight total touchdowns were second only to Huntley's 12. The former freshman All-American ranks fifth in school history with 208 career catches.
Jaylin Thomas, R-Sr., LB: A third-team All-MAC choice last fall, Thomas enters his final season with 211 career tackles. He was second on the team last year with 97 stops, including double-digit totals in three of the final six games.
Antonio Phillips, Sr., DB: A first-team All-MAC cornerback last fall, Phillips was named this week to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given annually to the nation's most outstanding defensive player. Phillips ranked second in the league last year with four interceptions.
Amechi Uzodinma II, Jr., DB: Uzodinma was the only MAC player with more interceptions than Phillips last season, picking off five passes on his way to second-team all-league recognition. The cornerback's interception total ranked seventh nationally.
Second Team
Drew Plitt, R-Sr., QB: Plitt had a breakout year last fall in his first season as the Cardinal's full-time starter, leading the MAC with 24 touchdown passes. He ranked second in the league with 243.2 passing yards per game while directing the MAC's top offense in terms of both points and yards.
Curtis Blackwell, Sr., OL: A third-team All-MAC selection last fall, Blackwell started all 12 games at right guard for the league's top-rated offense. His 30 career starts are the most of any active BSU offensive player and second overall on the team behind only senior safety Bryce Cosby's 35.
Third Team
Chris Agyemang, Grad, DL: Agyemang was named to the list despite not yet playing a down for the Cardinals. The graduate transfer was a two-time first-team All-Northeast Conference selection for FCS program Sacred Heart. He racked up 5.5 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss last fall.
Christian Albright, Sr., LB: Albright enters his final collegiate season as Ball State's active leader in career sacks (11.0), tackles for loss (22.5) and forced fumbles (7). A third-team All-MAC selection two seasons ago, Albright led the Cardinals with 10.5 tackles for loss last fall.
Joseph Greenwood, Sr., LS: Greenwood serves as the Cardinals long snapper for both punts and field goals. He has played in all 36 games over the past three seasons.
Fourth Team
Kaleb Slaven, R-Sr., OL: Slaven is entering his fourth season as the Cardinals' starting left tackle. He started 10 games last fall for the top-rated offense in the MAC.
Ball State is scheduled to open the 2020 season on Thursday, Sept. 3 with a home game against Maine. Click here for information on football tickets for the upcoming season. The Cardinals return 16 total starters from a 2019 team that contended late into the season for a MAC West Division title and won key rivalry games over Northern Illinois and league champion Miami.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @BSUCoachNeu.
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