Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Eight Cardinals earn all-conference honors
November 30, 2022 | Football
Ball State picks up recognition in annual postseason list
CLEVELAND, Ohio – After concluding the 2022 season, Ball State placed eight on the All-Mid-American Conference teams, the league office announced Wednesday.
The Cardinals had two representatives on the first team in Brady Hunt (tight end) and Carson Steele (running back). In addition, Ball State had five honorees on the second team in Clayton Coll (linebacker), Ethan Crowe (offensive lineman), Jayshon Jackson (wide receiver), Nic Jones (defensive back) and Amechi Uzodinma II (defensive back). Jordan Riley (defensive back) was voted to the third team.
In his first full season as a tight end, Hunt was third on the team with 46 receptions for 498 yards and five touchdowns. His touchdown total tied for the 12th-most among all tight ends in college football during the regular season. In conference play alone, the Muncie, Ind. native had 34 catches for 401 yards and four scores.
The first tight end to be picked to the first team since Zane Fakes in 2013, Hunt secured multiple catches in 11 of 12 games, including six games of at least four grabs. Across the last four contests of the season, he totaled 22 receptions for 229 yards.
Steele cemented himself as one of the top running backs in the country after rushing for 1,556 yards, the third-most in single-season program history. He had nine 100-yard performances on the year, which tied for the fifth-most in all of college football and the most by a Cardinal since MiQuale Lewis in 2008.
Steele's rushing total ranked as the sixth-most in the FBS through the regular season and his 14 rushing touchdowns, which tied for the third-most in a season at Ball State, was the 11th-highest mark in the country.
The Greenwood, Ind. native is the eighth different Cardinal running back to earn first-team honors and is the third in the last 15 years, joining Lewis (2008) and James Gilbert (2016).
Crowe served as a catalyst for the offensive line this season. Behind Crowe, Ball State ran for 1,868 yards and 14 touchdowns during the regular season. The offense as a whole averaged 384 yards per game.
The Bargersville, Ind. native was key in securing positive yardage for the Cardinals as he guided the line to allow only 3.6 tackles-for-loss per game, which tied for the third-best in all of college football. Crowe and Co. surrendered just 1.2 sacks per contest, which was also among the lowest marks in the nation.
Jackson was the top target for the Cardinals with 74 receptions, which also led the MAC and was inside the top 20 nationally. He had 829 receiving yards and three touchdowns during the 2022 campaign. In just two seasons, Jackson hauled in 143 receptions, which sits just outside the top 10 for career catches in a Ball State uniform.
The Chicago, Ill. native was one of just five players nationally to have three games of 10 catches and at least 100 yards this season. Jackson capped the season having caught a pass in 37 straight games, tied with teammate Yo'Heinz Tyler for seventh-most among all active FBS players.
Coll captained the Cardinal defense, which was among the best in the MAC. He led the team with 110 tackles, which was fourth-best in the conference. Coll added 7.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two quarterback hurries on the year.
The Franklin, Ind. native led Ball State's defense down the stretch to allow only 21.1 points per game across the last seven games, which was second in the conference during that span only to Miami (20.4). In that span, Coll and the defense racked up 43 tackles-for-loss and 20 sacks.
Uzodinma had 46 tackles, nine pass breakups, three interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery on the year. His 12 passes defended tied with Riley for the fourth-most in the conference.
The Orlando, Fla. native finished his career with 44 passes defended, which was second among all active players in the country and broke the program record that was previously held by Greg Garnica (1986-89).
Jones had 23 tackles, 12 pass breakups, two interceptions and blocked a punt during the 2022 season. His 14 passes defended was third in the conference and tied for 15th nationally.
The Detroit, Mich. native broke up at least one pass in eight games this season, which was second-best in the conference and tied for the eighth-best in all of college football.
Riley burst onto the scene in his first season as a starter with 95 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 12 pass breakups, one forced fumble and a sack. His tackles total tied for second-best on the team with Jaquan Amos and 11th in the conference, while his passes defended total of 12 was tied for fourth in the conference.
The Clinton, Md. native had eight games of at least eight tackles, which tied for fourth in the MAC during the 2022 campaign.
2022 MAC Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Tim Albin, Ohio
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: Kurtis Rourke, QB, Ohio
Offensive Player of the Year: Kurtis Rourke, QB, Ohio
Defensive Player of the Year: Jose Ramirez, DL, Eastern Michigan
Special Teams Player of the Year: Alex McNulty, PK, Buffalo
Freshman of the Year: Sieh Bangura, RB, Ohio
2022 All-MAC First Team Offense
Quarterback – Kurtis Rourke, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Marcellus Marshall, Kent State
Offensive Lineman – Nolan Potter, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – Hagen Meservy, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Nick Rosi, Toledo
Tight End – Brady Hunt, Ball State
Wide Receiver – Alex Adams, Akron
Wide Receiver – Devontez Walker, Kent State
Wide Receiver – Dante Cephas, Kent StateÂ
Wide Receiver – Sam Wiglusz, Ohio
Running Back – Carson Steele, Ball State
Running Back – Marquez Cooper, Kent State
Placekicker – Alex McNulty, Buffalo
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2022 All-MAC First Team Defense
Down Lineman – Karl Brooks, Bowling Green
Down Lineman – Thomas Incoom, Central Michigan
Down Lineman – Jose Ramirez, Eastern Michigan
Down Lineman – Desjuan Johnson, Toledo
Linebacker – Bubba Arslanian, Akron
Linebacker – Shaun Dolac, Buffalo
Linebacker – Dallas Gant, Toledo
Linebacker – Zaire Barnes, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Marcus Fuqua, Buffalo
Defensive Back – Donte Kent, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Defensive Back – Maxen Hook, Toledo
Punter – Mitchell Tomasek, Eastern Michigan
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2022 All-MAC First Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Jaylon Jackson, Eastern Michigan
Kickoff Return Specialist – Keegan Wilburn, Ohio
2022 All-MAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback – Dequan Finn, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Ethan Crowe, Ball State
Offensive Lineman – Jamezz Kimbrough, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Brian Dooley, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Sam Allan, Kent State
Offensive Lineman – Rusty Feth, Miami
Tight End – Christian Sims, Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Jayshon Jackson, Ball State
Wide Receiver – Odieu Hillare, Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Mac Hippenhammer, Miami
Wide Receiver – Jerjuan Newton, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Corey Crooms, Western Michigan
Running Back – Samson Evans, Eastern Michigan
Running Back – Sean Tyler, Western Michigan
Placekicker – Nathanial Vakos, Ohio
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2022 All-MAC Second Team Defense
Down Lineman – DeVonte O'Malley, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Jamal Hines, Toledo
Down Lineman – Andre Carter, Western Michigan
Down Lineman – Brandon Fiske, Western Michigan
Linebacker – Clayton Coll, Ball State
Linebacker – James Patterson, Buffalo
Linebacker – Ryan McWood, Miami
Linebacker – Dyontae Johnson, Toledo
Defensive Back – Amechi Uzodinma II, Ball State
Defensive Back – Nic Jones, Ball State
Defensive Back – Nico Bolden, Kent State
Defensive Back – C.J. Brown, Northern Illinois
Defensive Back – Nate Bauer, Toledo
Punter – Dom Dzioban, Miami
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2022 All-MAC Second Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Ta'ron Keith, Bowling Green
Kickoff Return Specialist – Ja'Shaun Poke, Kent State
2022 All-MAC Third Team Offense
Quarterback – DJ Irons, Akron
Quarterback – Collin Schlee, Kent State
Offensive Lineman – Anthony Whigan, Akron
Offensive Lineman – Gabe Wallace, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Desmond Bessent, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Deiyantei Powell-Woods, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Logan Zschemitz, Northern Illinois
Tight End – Joel Wilson, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver – Shocky Jacques-Louis, Akron
Wide Receiver – Quian Williams, Buffalo
Wide Receiver – Tanner Knue, Eastern Michigan
Wide Receiver – Hassan Beydoun, Eastern Michigan
Running Back – Harrison Waylee, Northern Illinois
Running Back – Sieh Bangura, Ohio
Placekicker – Jesus Gomez, Eastern Michigan
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2022 All-MAC Third Team Defense
Down Lineman – Zay West, Kent State
Down Lineman – Michael Kennedy, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – James Ester, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Jack McCrory, Ohio
Linebacker – Kyle Moretti, Central Michigan
Linebacker – Matthew Salopek, Miami
Linebacker – Keye Thompson, Ohio
Linebacker – Corvin Moment, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Jordan Riley, Ball State
Defensive Back – John Saunders Jr., Miami
Defensive Back – Tariq Drake, Ohio
Defensive Back – Keni-H Lovely, Western Michigan
Punter – Luke Elzinga, Central Michigan
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2022 All-MAC Third Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Jalen Walker, Miami
Kickoff Return Specialist – De'Javion Stepney, Central Michigan
The Cardinals had two representatives on the first team in Brady Hunt (tight end) and Carson Steele (running back). In addition, Ball State had five honorees on the second team in Clayton Coll (linebacker), Ethan Crowe (offensive lineman), Jayshon Jackson (wide receiver), Nic Jones (defensive back) and Amechi Uzodinma II (defensive back). Jordan Riley (defensive back) was voted to the third team.
In his first full season as a tight end, Hunt was third on the team with 46 receptions for 498 yards and five touchdowns. His touchdown total tied for the 12th-most among all tight ends in college football during the regular season. In conference play alone, the Muncie, Ind. native had 34 catches for 401 yards and four scores.
The first tight end to be picked to the first team since Zane Fakes in 2013, Hunt secured multiple catches in 11 of 12 games, including six games of at least four grabs. Across the last four contests of the season, he totaled 22 receptions for 229 yards.
Steele cemented himself as one of the top running backs in the country after rushing for 1,556 yards, the third-most in single-season program history. He had nine 100-yard performances on the year, which tied for the fifth-most in all of college football and the most by a Cardinal since MiQuale Lewis in 2008.
Steele's rushing total ranked as the sixth-most in the FBS through the regular season and his 14 rushing touchdowns, which tied for the third-most in a season at Ball State, was the 11th-highest mark in the country.
The Greenwood, Ind. native is the eighth different Cardinal running back to earn first-team honors and is the third in the last 15 years, joining Lewis (2008) and James Gilbert (2016).
Crowe served as a catalyst for the offensive line this season. Behind Crowe, Ball State ran for 1,868 yards and 14 touchdowns during the regular season. The offense as a whole averaged 384 yards per game.
The Bargersville, Ind. native was key in securing positive yardage for the Cardinals as he guided the line to allow only 3.6 tackles-for-loss per game, which tied for the third-best in all of college football. Crowe and Co. surrendered just 1.2 sacks per contest, which was also among the lowest marks in the nation.
Jackson was the top target for the Cardinals with 74 receptions, which also led the MAC and was inside the top 20 nationally. He had 829 receiving yards and three touchdowns during the 2022 campaign. In just two seasons, Jackson hauled in 143 receptions, which sits just outside the top 10 for career catches in a Ball State uniform.
The Chicago, Ill. native was one of just five players nationally to have three games of 10 catches and at least 100 yards this season. Jackson capped the season having caught a pass in 37 straight games, tied with teammate Yo'Heinz Tyler for seventh-most among all active FBS players.
Coll captained the Cardinal defense, which was among the best in the MAC. He led the team with 110 tackles, which was fourth-best in the conference. Coll added 7.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two quarterback hurries on the year.
The Franklin, Ind. native led Ball State's defense down the stretch to allow only 21.1 points per game across the last seven games, which was second in the conference during that span only to Miami (20.4). In that span, Coll and the defense racked up 43 tackles-for-loss and 20 sacks.
Uzodinma had 46 tackles, nine pass breakups, three interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery on the year. His 12 passes defended tied with Riley for the fourth-most in the conference.
The Orlando, Fla. native finished his career with 44 passes defended, which was second among all active players in the country and broke the program record that was previously held by Greg Garnica (1986-89).
Jones had 23 tackles, 12 pass breakups, two interceptions and blocked a punt during the 2022 season. His 14 passes defended was third in the conference and tied for 15th nationally.
The Detroit, Mich. native broke up at least one pass in eight games this season, which was second-best in the conference and tied for the eighth-best in all of college football.
Riley burst onto the scene in his first season as a starter with 95 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 12 pass breakups, one forced fumble and a sack. His tackles total tied for second-best on the team with Jaquan Amos and 11th in the conference, while his passes defended total of 12 was tied for fourth in the conference.
The Clinton, Md. native had eight games of at least eight tackles, which tied for fourth in the MAC during the 2022 campaign.
2022 MAC Specialty Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Tim Albin, Ohio
Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner: Kurtis Rourke, QB, Ohio
Offensive Player of the Year: Kurtis Rourke, QB, Ohio
Defensive Player of the Year: Jose Ramirez, DL, Eastern Michigan
Special Teams Player of the Year: Alex McNulty, PK, Buffalo
Freshman of the Year: Sieh Bangura, RB, Ohio
2022 All-MAC First Team Offense
Quarterback – Kurtis Rourke, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Sidy Sow, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Marcellus Marshall, Kent State
Offensive Lineman – Nolan Potter, Northern Illinois
Offensive Lineman – Hagen Meservy, Ohio
Offensive Lineman – Nick Rosi, Toledo
Tight End – Brady Hunt, Ball State
Wide Receiver – Alex Adams, Akron
Wide Receiver – Devontez Walker, Kent State
Wide Receiver – Dante Cephas, Kent StateÂ
Wide Receiver – Sam Wiglusz, Ohio
Running Back – Carson Steele, Ball State
Running Back – Marquez Cooper, Kent State
Placekicker – Alex McNulty, Buffalo
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2022 All-MAC First Team Defense
Down Lineman – Karl Brooks, Bowling Green
Down Lineman – Thomas Incoom, Central Michigan
Down Lineman – Jose Ramirez, Eastern Michigan
Down Lineman – Desjuan Johnson, Toledo
Linebacker – Bubba Arslanian, Akron
Linebacker – Shaun Dolac, Buffalo
Linebacker – Dallas Gant, Toledo
Linebacker – Zaire Barnes, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Marcus Fuqua, Buffalo
Defensive Back – Donte Kent, Central Michigan
Defensive Back – Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Defensive Back – Maxen Hook, Toledo
Punter – Mitchell Tomasek, Eastern Michigan
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2022 All-MAC First Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Jaylon Jackson, Eastern Michigan
Kickoff Return Specialist – Keegan Wilburn, Ohio
2022 All-MAC Second Team Offense
Quarterback – Dequan Finn, Toledo
Offensive Lineman – Ethan Crowe, Ball State
Offensive Lineman – Jamezz Kimbrough, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Brian Dooley, Eastern Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Sam Allan, Kent State
Offensive Lineman – Rusty Feth, Miami
Tight End – Christian Sims, Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Jayshon Jackson, Ball State
Wide Receiver – Odieu Hillare, Bowling Green
Wide Receiver – Mac Hippenhammer, Miami
Wide Receiver – Jerjuan Newton, Toledo
Wide Receiver – Corey Crooms, Western Michigan
Running Back – Samson Evans, Eastern Michigan
Running Back – Sean Tyler, Western Michigan
Placekicker – Nathanial Vakos, Ohio
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2022 All-MAC Second Team Defense
Down Lineman – DeVonte O'Malley, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Jamal Hines, Toledo
Down Lineman – Andre Carter, Western Michigan
Down Lineman – Brandon Fiske, Western Michigan
Linebacker – Clayton Coll, Ball State
Linebacker – James Patterson, Buffalo
Linebacker – Ryan McWood, Miami
Linebacker – Dyontae Johnson, Toledo
Defensive Back – Amechi Uzodinma II, Ball State
Defensive Back – Nic Jones, Ball State
Defensive Back – Nico Bolden, Kent State
Defensive Back – C.J. Brown, Northern Illinois
Defensive Back – Nate Bauer, Toledo
Punter – Dom Dzioban, Miami
Â
2022 All-MAC Second Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Ta'ron Keith, Bowling Green
Kickoff Return Specialist – Ja'Shaun Poke, Kent State
2022 All-MAC Third Team Offense
Quarterback – DJ Irons, Akron
Quarterback – Collin Schlee, Kent State
Offensive Lineman – Anthony Whigan, Akron
Offensive Lineman – Gabe Wallace, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Desmond Bessent, Buffalo
Offensive Lineman – Deiyantei Powell-Woods, Central Michigan
Offensive Lineman – Logan Zschemitz, Northern Illinois
Tight End – Joel Wilson, Central Michigan
Wide Receiver – Shocky Jacques-Louis, Akron
Wide Receiver – Quian Williams, Buffalo
Wide Receiver – Tanner Knue, Eastern Michigan
Wide Receiver – Hassan Beydoun, Eastern Michigan
Running Back – Harrison Waylee, Northern Illinois
Running Back – Sieh Bangura, Ohio
Placekicker – Jesus Gomez, Eastern Michigan
Â
2022 All-MAC Third Team Defense
Down Lineman – Zay West, Kent State
Down Lineman – Michael Kennedy, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – James Ester, Northern Illinois
Down Lineman – Jack McCrory, Ohio
Linebacker – Kyle Moretti, Central Michigan
Linebacker – Matthew Salopek, Miami
Linebacker – Keye Thompson, Ohio
Linebacker – Corvin Moment, Western Michigan
Defensive Back – Jordan Riley, Ball State
Defensive Back – John Saunders Jr., Miami
Defensive Back – Tariq Drake, Ohio
Defensive Back – Keni-H Lovely, Western Michigan
Punter – Luke Elzinga, Central Michigan
Â
2022 All-MAC Third Team Specialists
Kickoff Return Specialist – Jalen Walker, Miami
Kickoff Return Specialist – De'Javion Stepney, Central Michigan
Players Mentioned
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