Cardinals welcome new additions for spring semester

MUNCIE, Ind. – Some of the newest members of the Ball State football program have arrived for the 2022 spring semester, which includes four transfers and 10 freshmen.

The group of 14 newcomers includes two quarterbacks, two running backs, two wide receivers, two defensive linemen, two outside linebackers and two safeties in addition to an offensive lineman and tight end.

The remainder of the 2022 signing class is expected to join prior to the fall semester.

2022 Ball State University Football Spring Enrollees
Jaquan Amos, S, 6-0, 194, Gr., Philadelphia, Pa. (Northeast HS/Villanova/Iowa State)
Colin Blazek, QB, 6-3, 205, Fr., Venice, Fla. (Venice HS)
Kaden Cobb, QB, 6-3, 180, Fr., Naperville, Ill. (Fenwick HS)
DeJuan Echoles Jr., OLB, 6-2, 220, Fr., Indianapolis, Ind. (Warren Central HS)
Phyllip Gunn, OL, 6-3, 315, Fr., Hammond, Ind. (Merrillville HS)
Braeden Hardwick, RB, 5-11, 200, Fr., Fort Wayne, Ind. (Homestead HS)
Sidney Houston Jr., OLB, 6-2, 245, Jr., East St. Louis, Ill. (East St. Louis HS/McKendree)
Devon Hunter, RB, 6-0, 190, Fr., Avon, Ohio (Avon HS)
Kyle King, DL, 6-4, 270, So., Greenfield, Ind. (New Palestine HS/Michigan State)
Tanner Koziol, TE, 6-6, 215, Fr., Bloomingdale, Ind. (Mt. Vernon HS)
Dwayne Moorehead, WR, 6-2, 183, Fr., Chicago, Ill. (Brother Rice HS)
Karl Odrick Jr., DL, 6-3, 220, Fr., New Orleans, La. (Edna Karr HS)
Nick Presley, WR, 6-0, 180, Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio (Walnut Hills HS)
Loren Strickland, S, 5-10, 200, Jr., Carpentersville, Ill. (Jacobs HS/Indianapolis)

Jaquan Amos, S, 6-0, 194, Gr., Philadelphia, Pa. (Northeast HS/Villanova/Iowa State)
PRIOR TO BALL STATE: Played one season at Iowa State under head coach Matt Campbell ... played in three games and totaled two tackles ... played three seasons at Villanova under head coach Mark Ferrante ... competed in 33 games for the Wildcats and posted 149 tackles (109 solo), 25 passes defended, eight interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries ... also contributed four defensive touchdowns ... named third-team all-conference after 50 tackles, 11 passes defended and four interceptions as a junior ... HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at Northeast as a defensive back ... played for head coach Eric Clark ... was a two-time all-state and all-conference selection ... named league MVP during senior season ... tabbed as the Northeast Times Athlete of the Year ... racked up 15 career interceptions ... PERSONAL: Son of Darryl Amos and Tameka Brown … has six siblings ... brother, Tyrik, played football at both Shippensburg and Bloomsburg.

Colin Blazek, QB, 6-3, 205, Fr., Venice, Fla. (Venice HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: Played his senior season at Venice for coach John Peacock … 3-star recruit via 247Sports … a first-team all-area selection, team offensive MVP and team captain … threw for 2,646 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior … ranked among the state's passing leaders … quarterbacked Venice to a top-10 ranking in Florida's Class 7A … selected to compete in the Florida vs. Georgia All-Star Game … played previously at Neuqua Valley High School in Illinois … an academic all-conference selection at Neuqua Valley … high honor roll member … also played high school baseball … PERSONAL: Son of Chuck and Julie Blazek … has one brother, Justin, who plays football at Wisconsin-Platteville … father played football at Ohio.

Kaden Cobb, QB, 6-3, 180, Fr., Naperville, Ill. (Fenwick HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at Fenwick as a quarterback … played for head coach Matthew Battaglia … tabbed as a three-star prospect and the top quarterback recruit in the state by 247Sports … named the 2021 Suburban Life Illinois Player of the Year after leading team to a state title and breaking the school record for touchdown passes in a season with 30 as a senior … named First Team All-State as a senior … tabbed First Team All-Conference three times … racked up 6,372 yards and 67 touchdowns in his career … also lettered in basketball … PERSONAL: Son of Devin and Laura Cobb … has one sibling: Cameryn … father, Devin, played football at Wisconsin-Plattville … plans to major in economics.

DeJuan Echoles Jr., OLB, 6-2, 220, Fr., Indianapolis, Ind. (Warren Central HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year starter and letterwinner at Warren Central as a linebacker and a defensive end … played for head coach Michael Kirschner … tabbed as the third-best linebacker prospect in the state by 247Sports … earned all-conference and all-county honors … named team MVP during senior season … racked up 100 tackles, 20 sacks, 15 tackles-for-loss and six forced fumbles in his career … also played basketball … PERSONAL: Son of Shawntel Echoles … plans to major in criminal justice.

Phyllip Gunn, OL, 6-3, 315, Fr., Hammond, Ind. (Merrillville HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: Played his senior season at Merrillville for Ball State alumnus Brad Seiss ... helped the Pirates to a 10-2 record and a conference championship ... 3-star recruit via 247Sports … previously played at Morton High School in Hammond, helping the team to a 9-2 mark his junior year ... played both offensive and defensive line in his high school career ... first-team all-conference as a junior … also an all-area selection ... PERSONAL: Son of Earnestine Carey.

Braeden Hardwick, RB, 5-11, 200, Fr., Fort Wayne, Ind. (Homestead HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year letterwinner at Homestead as a running back … played for head coach Chad Zolman … led team to 31-7 record across three seasons, including 23-3 in final two seasons as a prep, and back-to-back conference and sectional championships … totaled 2,760 rushing yards on 427 carries with 33 rushing touchdowns … named first team all-conference as a senior and junior … had 965 yards on 149 carries with 11 touchdowns as a senior … had 957 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns and over 1,100 all-purpose yards in seven games … set school record with 287 rushing yards in a game … also lettered in baseball … PERSONAL: Son of Marty and Jodi Hardwick … has one sister, Morgan, and one brother, Trevor … plans to major in architecture and minor in psychology.

Sidney Houston Jr., OLB, 6-2, 245, Jr., Cahokia, Ill. (East St. Louis HS/McKendree)
PRIOR TO BALL STATE: Played for three seasons at McKendree University (D-II) ... played for head coach Mike Babcock ... named first-team all-conference as a sophomore after totaling 70 tackles, including 10.5 tackles-for-loss, and 5.5 sacks in all 11 games on the defensive line ... also had seven quarterback hurries ... played in all 11 games as a freshman in 2019, racking up 27 tackles, including 3.0 tackles-for-loss ... took a redshirt in 2020 ... HIGH SCHOOL: Played for three seasons on varsity at East St. Louis as a middle linebacker and tight end ... played for head coach Darren Sunkett ... tabbed first-team all-conference, all-area and all-metro as a senior ... totaled 143 tackles, including 12.0 tackles-for-loss, 7.0 sacks and one interception as a senior ... had 72 tackles, including 18.0 tackles-for-loss, 6.0 sacks and one interception as a junior ... PERSONAL: Son of Antoinette Edwards ... has two brothers, DJ and Nick ... cousin, Javontez Spraggins, plays on the offensive line at Tennessee ... plans to major in Business Administration.

Devon Hunter, RB, 6-0, 190, Fr., Avon, Ohio (Avon HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year letterwinner at Avon as a running back and inside linebacker … played for head coach Mike Elder … captained team to 48-5 record across four campaigns, including four consecutive appearances in the state finals … totaled 2,247 rushing yards, 32 rushing touchdowns, 291 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, 86 tackles, 10.0 tackles-for-loss, six quarterback hurries and 5.0 sacks in his career … selected to play in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl in Dallas … named all-state as a linebacker, as well as all-conference, all-county and all-district as a running back … also played baseball for three seasons … earned the President's Award for Educational Excellence as a senior … PERSONAL: Son of Wil and Heidi Hunter … has a brother, Tyler … father, Wil, played football at Clarion and Penn … plans to major in business.

Kyle King, DL, 6-4, 270, So., Greenfield, Ind. (New Palestine HS/Michigan State)
PRIOR TO BALL STATE: Played for two seasons at Michigan State under head coach Mel Tucker ... played in seven games and totaled four tackles with three passes defended along the defensive line ... helped guide the Spartans to an 11-2 record (7-2 Big Ten) and a Peach Bowl title ... it was just the sixth time in program history to rack up 11 wins in a season ... Michigan State finished No. 8 in the final Associated Press poll of the season ... redshirted first year on campus ... HIGH SCHOOL: Ranked the No. 1 strongside defensive end prospect in the Class of 2020 in Indiana by 247Sports ... listed as one of the best overall players in Indiana by 247Sports (No. 6), ESPN.com (No. 6) and Rivals.com (No. 11) ... played for head coach Kyle Ralph at New Palestine and helped the Dragons to back-to-back Class 5A state titles and 51-2 record in four years ... had 160 tackles, 53 tackles-for-loss and 28.5 sacks in his career ... named the top defensive lineman in the state by the Indiana Football Coaches Association (Mr. Football Position Winner) ... first-team all-state selection by the Indiana Football Coaches Association as a senior after collecting 67 tackles, including 18.5 for loss, with seven sacks, two blocked punts and two forced fumbles ... had 71 tackles, including 26 for loss and 18 sacks, as a junior in 2018 to earn honorable mention all-state honors ... PERSONAL: Son of Clayton King and Crystal Renfro ... is an only child ... intends to major in advertising.

Tanner Koziol, TE, 6-6, 215, Fr., Bloomingdale, Ind. (Mt. Vernon HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year letterwinner at Mt. Vernon ... played for head coach Mike Kirschner … played tight end and defensive end … team captain as a senior … compiled 1,110 career receiving yards and 22 touchdowns … had 35 receptions for 450 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior ... helped Mt. Vernon to the state finals as a junior and to conference and sectional championships as a junior ... honor roll member ... PERSONAL: Son of Sandee Koziol ... one brother ... cousin Logan Justus was a kicker at Indiana.

Dwayne Moorehead, WR, 6-2, 183, Fr., Chicago, Ill. (Brother Rice HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: Letterwinner at Brother Rice as a wide receiver … played for head coach Brian Badke … named to the All-Catholic League … racked up five touchdowns on varsity … had three touchdowns and 200 receiving yards in six games as a senior … contributed a pair of touchdowns as a junior … was an honor roll student … PERSONAL: Plans to major in accounting.

Karl Odrick Jr., DL, 6-3, 220, Fr., New Orleans, La. (Edna Karr HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at Edna Karr as a defensive end … played for head coach Brice Brown … led the defensive line in sacks and tackles en route to being named all-conference … selected to the Louisiana Football Magazine All-South Louisiana Team … PERSONAL: Son of Karl Odrick Sr. and Selina Redmon … cousin, Khi Mathieu, is a wide receiver at Memphis … cousin, Louis Lipps, played at Southern Miss and spent nine years in the NFL as a wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers … plans to major in construction management.

Nick Presley, WR, 6-0, 180, Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio (Walnut Hills HS)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year varsity letterwinner at Walnut Hills ... played for head coach Gerry Beauchamp … played wide receiver and cornerback ... two-time team captain … first-team all-conference, second-team All-Southwest Ohio and honorable mention all-district as a junior … piled up nearly 1,200 all-purpose yards and seven total touchdowns as a junior ... caught 11 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown in a limited senior season … also a three-year starter in baseball ... PERSONAL: Son of Erin England … has two siblings.

Loren Strickland, S, 5-10, 200, Jr., Carpentersville, Ill. (Jacobs HS/Indianapolis)
PRIOR TO BALL STATE: Played two seasons at UIndy under head coach Chris Keevers … in 20 games, totaled 94 tackles, 14 pass breakups, one interception and one touchdown … chosen as a team captain as a sophomore …selected first team all-conference as a freshman … chosen as the freshman defensive player of the year … HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year letterwinner at Jacobs as a running back, safety and outside linebacker … led team to the Elite Eight during junior season … selected first-team all-conference and all-area … also named academic all-state … was a four-year letterwinner in track and field and wrestling … was a two-time state qualifier in the long jump and 4x200 relay … three-time sectional qualifier and 2017 regional champ as a wrestler … PERSONAL: Son of John and Melissa Strickland … has a brother, John, who played football at UIndy … plans to major in finance.

Cardinals welcome new additions for spring semester

Players Mentioned

Jaquan Amos

Colin Blazek

Kaden Cobb

DeJuan Echoles Jr.

Phyllip Gunn

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