Ball State University Athletics
Football Adding More Talent On February Signing Day
February 01, 2023 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. - - It is football signing day round two, as the Ball State football team continues to add to its highly touted 2023 signing class.
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So far today (Wednesday, Feb. 1), head coach Mike Neu and staff have added two more high school standouts, along with three talented transfers to the roster for next season.
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That is in addition to the 21 new student-athletes the program locked up during the early signing period in December.
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Ball State's latest signees include:
Ball State's 2023 February Signing Class – Incoming Freshman:
Ethan Evers | LB | 6-1 | 210 | Fr. | Goshen, Ind. (NorthWood)
RJ Mukes III | WR | 5-10 | 180 | Fr. | Dayton, Ohio (Wayne)
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Ball State's 2023 February Signing Class – Transfer Student-Athletes:
Tucker Dunn | LS | 6-3 | 240 | Gr. | Cranberry Township, Pa. (Pittsburgh Central / Colgate)
Jon Mucciolo | OL | 6-4 | 310 | Gr. | Mahopac, N.Y. (Archbishop Stepinac / Sacred Heart)
Luke Wiginton | OL | 6-5 | 305 | Jr. | Fort Wayne, Ind. (Bishop Dwenger / Indiana)
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More info on each signee can also be found below:
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Ethan Evers | LB | 6-1 | 210 | Fr. | Goshen, Ind. (NorthWood)
HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year varsity letterwinner at NorthWood High School … played for coach Nate Andrews … helped guide the Panthers to a 27-14 record over his career, including an 11-1 record and a Northern Lakes Conference Championship his senior season … first team all-state as a senior, after earning first team junior all-state as a sophomore and junior … three-time all-conference first team selection … was named Black Crunch Player of the Year as a junior, while earning all-area first team in each of his final three seasons … finished his career with a program record 38.5 tackles for loss … also registered 261 career tackles on defense, while rushing for 812 yards and 19 career touchdowns on offense … also earned two letters in basketball at NorthWood … PERSONAL: Son of Amanda and Jason Evers … has one sister, Tatum … father played tennis at the University of Illinois Springfield … intends to major in sports management.
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RJ Mukes III | WR | 5-10 | 180 | Fr. | Dayton, Ohio (Wayne)
HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year varsity letterwinner at Wayne High School … played for his father Roosevelt Mukes Jr. … finished his high school career ranked second in program history in regular season receptions and yards … a two-time team captain … earned first team all-state as a senior and first team all-conference as a junior and senior … also named the Team MVP and earned the program's Hardest Worker Award as a senior … Wayne's Special Teams Player of the Year as a junior, after earning the Coaches Award as a sophomore … finished his senior season with 1,011 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 80 receptions … also registered over 1,700 all-purpose yards … also a three-year letterwinner in basketball and a two-year letterwinner in track at Wayne … PERSONAL: Son of Camille and Roosevelt Mukes Jr. … father played football at Cincinnati … intends to major in marketing or communications.
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Tucker Dunn | LS | 6-3 | 240 | Gr. | Cranberry Township, Pa. (Pittsburgh Central / Colgate)
PRIOR TO BALL STATE: Played four seasons (2019-2022) at Colgate for coaches Dan Hunt and Stan Dakostky … played in 23 games as the Raiders full-time long snapper for punts and field goals the last two seasons … two-time Phil Steele All-Patriot League Second Team selection (2021 & 2022) … HIGH SCHOOL: A three-year varsity letterwinner at Pittsburgh Central High School … played for coach Terry Totten … helped guide the Vikings to a 31-9 record over his career … co-captain his senior season … long snapper for every punt and field goal over his career and was perfect on every snap … also earned two letters in wrestling at Pittsburgh Central … PERSONAL: Son of Lyn and Tom Dunn … has one brother, Tanner … his father Tom also played football at Colgate, along with his cousin Dillon … his uncle Dino played football at Middle Tennessee State, while his cousin Dawson played football at Princeton and his cousin Taylor played basketball at Arcadia … pursuing his MBA at Ball State.
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Jon Mucciolo | OL | 6-4 | 310 | Gr. | Mahopac, N.Y. (Archbishop Stepinac / Sacred Heart)
PRIOR TO BALL STATE: Played four seasons (2019-2022) at Sacred Heart for coach Mark Nofri … played in 29 games on the offensive line … as a junior he contributed to an offensive line which led the league with 211.3 rushing yards per game and ranked 11th nationally … the Pioneers ranked third in the Northeast Conference in 2022, averaging 171.1 rushing yards per game … HIGH SCHOOL: A varsity letterwinner at Archbishop Stepinac … helped guide the Crusaders to back-to-back NYSCHSAA Championships … the Stepinac Joseph R. Riverso Lineman of the Year … PERSONAL: Pursing an advanced degree at Ball State.
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Luke Wiginton | OL | 6-5 | 305 | Jr. | Fort Wayne, Ind. (Bishop Dwenger / Indiana)
PRIOR TO BALL STATE: Played two seasons (2021-2022) at Indiana for coach Tom Allen … 2021 and 2022 Academic All-Big Ten selection … also a redshirt at Indiana in 2020 … will graduate from IU this spring with a degree in social work … HIGH SCHOOL: A two-year varsity letterwinner at Bishop Dwenger High School … played for coach Jason Garrett … first team all-state and first team all-conference as a senior … helped guide the Saints to a 25-3 record over his career, along with the 2018 Indiana High School Athletics Association Class 4A State Championship as a junior … 2019 Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50 selection ... ranked the No. 9 prospect in Indiana by Rivals coming out of high school … PERSONAL: Son of Amy and Ben Wiginton … has two sisters, Molly and Emma, and two brothers, Matthew and John … grandfather played football for Cornell … pursuing his masters of social work at Ball State.
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So far today (Wednesday, Feb. 1), head coach Mike Neu and staff have added two more high school standouts, along with three talented transfers to the roster for next season.
Â
That is in addition to the 21 new student-athletes the program locked up during the early signing period in December.
Â
Ball State's latest signees include:
Ball State's 2023 February Signing Class – Incoming Freshman:
Ethan Evers | LB | 6-1 | 210 | Fr. | Goshen, Ind. (NorthWood)
RJ Mukes III | WR | 5-10 | 180 | Fr. | Dayton, Ohio (Wayne)
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Ball State's 2023 February Signing Class – Transfer Student-Athletes:
Tucker Dunn | LS | 6-3 | 240 | Gr. | Cranberry Township, Pa. (Pittsburgh Central / Colgate)
Jon Mucciolo | OL | 6-4 | 310 | Gr. | Mahopac, N.Y. (Archbishop Stepinac / Sacred Heart)
Luke Wiginton | OL | 6-5 | 305 | Jr. | Fort Wayne, Ind. (Bishop Dwenger / Indiana)
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More info on each signee can also be found below:
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Â??? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) February 1, 2023
Welcome to Ball State Ethan Evers!
?? @evers_06
?? Linebacker
?? NorthWood HS (IN) #NSD23 | #23toMuncie pic.twitter.com/L9WmipHLhL
Ethan Evers | LB | 6-1 | 210 | Fr. | Goshen, Ind. (NorthWood)
HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year varsity letterwinner at NorthWood High School … played for coach Nate Andrews … helped guide the Panthers to a 27-14 record over his career, including an 11-1 record and a Northern Lakes Conference Championship his senior season … first team all-state as a senior, after earning first team junior all-state as a sophomore and junior … three-time all-conference first team selection … was named Black Crunch Player of the Year as a junior, while earning all-area first team in each of his final three seasons … finished his career with a program record 38.5 tackles for loss … also registered 261 career tackles on defense, while rushing for 812 yards and 19 career touchdowns on offense … also earned two letters in basketball at NorthWood … PERSONAL: Son of Amanda and Jason Evers … has one sister, Tatum … father played tennis at the University of Illinois Springfield … intends to major in sports management.
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Â??? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) February 1, 2023
Welcome to Ball State RJ Mukes III!
?? @MukesRj
?? Wide Receiver
?? Wayne HS (OH) #NSD23 | #23toMuncie pic.twitter.com/MG0OGBFOjD
RJ Mukes III | WR | 5-10 | 180 | Fr. | Dayton, Ohio (Wayne)
HIGH SCHOOL: A four-year varsity letterwinner at Wayne High School … played for his father Roosevelt Mukes Jr. … finished his high school career ranked second in program history in regular season receptions and yards … a two-time team captain … earned first team all-state as a senior and first team all-conference as a junior and senior … also named the Team MVP and earned the program's Hardest Worker Award as a senior … Wayne's Special Teams Player of the Year as a junior, after earning the Coaches Award as a sophomore … finished his senior season with 1,011 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 80 receptions … also registered over 1,700 all-purpose yards … also a three-year letterwinner in basketball and a two-year letterwinner in track at Wayne … PERSONAL: Son of Camille and Roosevelt Mukes Jr. … father played football at Cincinnati … intends to major in marketing or communications.
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Â??? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) February 1, 2023
Welcome to Ball State Tucker Dunn!
?? @tuckd35
?? Long Snapper
?? Colgate University (NY) #NSD23 | #23toMuncie pic.twitter.com/8SyogS6mBJ
Tucker Dunn | LS | 6-3 | 240 | Gr. | Cranberry Township, Pa. (Pittsburgh Central / Colgate)
PRIOR TO BALL STATE: Played four seasons (2019-2022) at Colgate for coaches Dan Hunt and Stan Dakostky … played in 23 games as the Raiders full-time long snapper for punts and field goals the last two seasons … two-time Phil Steele All-Patriot League Second Team selection (2021 & 2022) … HIGH SCHOOL: A three-year varsity letterwinner at Pittsburgh Central High School … played for coach Terry Totten … helped guide the Vikings to a 31-9 record over his career … co-captain his senior season … long snapper for every punt and field goal over his career and was perfect on every snap … also earned two letters in wrestling at Pittsburgh Central … PERSONAL: Son of Lyn and Tom Dunn … has one brother, Tanner … his father Tom also played football at Colgate, along with his cousin Dillon … his uncle Dino played football at Middle Tennessee State, while his cousin Dawson played football at Princeton and his cousin Taylor played basketball at Arcadia … pursuing his MBA at Ball State.
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Â??? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) February 1, 2023
Welcome to Ball State Jon Mucciolo!
?? @jonmocch
?? Offensive Line
?? Sacred Heart University (CT) #NSD23 | #23toMuncie pic.twitter.com/Ronw2NbYxr
Jon Mucciolo | OL | 6-4 | 310 | Gr. | Mahopac, N.Y. (Archbishop Stepinac / Sacred Heart)
PRIOR TO BALL STATE: Played four seasons (2019-2022) at Sacred Heart for coach Mark Nofri … played in 29 games on the offensive line … as a junior he contributed to an offensive line which led the league with 211.3 rushing yards per game and ranked 11th nationally … the Pioneers ranked third in the Northeast Conference in 2022, averaging 171.1 rushing yards per game … HIGH SCHOOL: A varsity letterwinner at Archbishop Stepinac … helped guide the Crusaders to back-to-back NYSCHSAA Championships … the Stepinac Joseph R. Riverso Lineman of the Year … PERSONAL: Pursing an advanced degree at Ball State.
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??? SIGNED.
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) February 1, 2023
Welcome to Ball State Luke Wiginton!
?? @LukeWiginton
?? Offensive Line
?? Indiana University (IN) #NSD23 | #23toMuncie pic.twitter.com/ufBfQHRrUL
Luke Wiginton | OL | 6-5 | 305 | Jr. | Fort Wayne, Ind. (Bishop Dwenger / Indiana)
PRIOR TO BALL STATE: Played two seasons (2021-2022) at Indiana for coach Tom Allen … 2021 and 2022 Academic All-Big Ten selection … also a redshirt at Indiana in 2020 … will graduate from IU this spring with a degree in social work … HIGH SCHOOL: A two-year varsity letterwinner at Bishop Dwenger High School … played for coach Jason Garrett … first team all-state and first team all-conference as a senior … helped guide the Saints to a 25-3 record over his career, along with the 2018 Indiana High School Athletics Association Class 4A State Championship as a junior … 2019 Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50 selection ... ranked the No. 9 prospect in Indiana by Rivals coming out of high school … PERSONAL: Son of Amy and Ben Wiginton … has two sisters, Molly and Emma, and two brothers, Matthew and John … grandfather played football for Cornell … pursuing his masters of social work at Ball State.
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