Ball State University Athletics
Twelve Football Players Honored as Part of Preseason All-MAC Teams by Athlon Sports
May 24, 2023 | Football
MUNCIE, Indiana - - The power of the 2023 Ball State University football team is apt to be centered among its front-line stars on both offense and defense, and that was evidenced this week in the release of Athlon Sports' Preseason All-MAC honorees.
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Three offensive linemen, two tight ends, a defensive lineman and three linebackers anchor a cast of 12 Ball State athletes selected to four teams. Sophomore tight end Brady Hunt and junior running back Marquez Cooper, a transfer from Kent State, both were also first-team selections on All-MAC teams following the 2022 season. Hunt was a Freshman All-American who caught 46 passes last year for 498 yards. Cooper was second in the MAC last year with 1,326 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.
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Inside linebacker Clayton Coll leads the Cardinal defense with 23 starts over his four seasons. He paced BSU with 110 tackles last season while adding seven tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. BSU's other first-teamer is center Ethan Crowe, a two-year starter with 22 starts while leading an elite offensive line unit that also boasts third-teamer Corey Stewart and fourth-team pick Damon Kaylor.
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Second-team selections include Tanner Koziol, Hunt's bookend tight end target who, also a sophomore, stands 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds. He caught 35 passes last season and led the Cards with seven TD receptions. Cole Pearce is a second-team selection at linebacker, lining up beside Coll and posting 85 tackles last year with a team-high 14 TFL.
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Safety Jordan Riley was second in tackles last year for the Cardinals with 95. He is a third-team selection along with defensive lineman Tavion Woodard who had 35 stops and four sacks last season. Punter Lucas Borrow averaged 41.4 yards per kick last year to earn third-team honors. Linebacker Sidney Houston earned fourth-team accolades on the strength of 65 tackles last season and a team-best 7.5 TFL.
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The Cardinals open the 2023 campaign at Kentucky on September 2.
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Ball State Honorees among Athlon Sports 2023 Preseason All-MAC Teams
RB Marquez Cooper (first team)
TE Brady Hunt (first team)
C Ethan Crowe (first team)
LB Clayton Coll (first team)
TE Tanner Koziol (second team)
LB Cole Pearce (second team)
OL Corey Stewart (third team)
DL Tavion Woodard (third team)
S Jordan Riley (third team)
P Lucas Borrow (third team)
OL Damon Kaylor (fourth team)
LB Sidney Houston (fourth team)
Link to Athlon Sports' 2023 All-MAC Team:
https://athlonsports.com/college-football/mac-football-2023-all-conference-team
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Three offensive linemen, two tight ends, a defensive lineman and three linebackers anchor a cast of 12 Ball State athletes selected to four teams. Sophomore tight end Brady Hunt and junior running back Marquez Cooper, a transfer from Kent State, both were also first-team selections on All-MAC teams following the 2022 season. Hunt was a Freshman All-American who caught 46 passes last year for 498 yards. Cooper was second in the MAC last year with 1,326 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.
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Inside linebacker Clayton Coll leads the Cardinal defense with 23 starts over his four seasons. He paced BSU with 110 tackles last season while adding seven tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. BSU's other first-teamer is center Ethan Crowe, a two-year starter with 22 starts while leading an elite offensive line unit that also boasts third-teamer Corey Stewart and fourth-team pick Damon Kaylor.
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Second-team selections include Tanner Koziol, Hunt's bookend tight end target who, also a sophomore, stands 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds. He caught 35 passes last season and led the Cards with seven TD receptions. Cole Pearce is a second-team selection at linebacker, lining up beside Coll and posting 85 tackles last year with a team-high 14 TFL.
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Safety Jordan Riley was second in tackles last year for the Cardinals with 95. He is a third-team selection along with defensive lineman Tavion Woodard who had 35 stops and four sacks last season. Punter Lucas Borrow averaged 41.4 yards per kick last year to earn third-team honors. Linebacker Sidney Houston earned fourth-team accolades on the strength of 65 tackles last season and a team-best 7.5 TFL.
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The Cardinals open the 2023 campaign at Kentucky on September 2.
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Ball State Honorees among Athlon Sports 2023 Preseason All-MAC Teams
RB Marquez Cooper (first team)
TE Brady Hunt (first team)
C Ethan Crowe (first team)
LB Clayton Coll (first team)
TE Tanner Koziol (second team)
LB Cole Pearce (second team)
OL Corey Stewart (third team)
DL Tavion Woodard (third team)
S Jordan Riley (third team)
P Lucas Borrow (third team)
OL Damon Kaylor (fourth team)
LB Sidney Houston (fourth team)
Link to Athlon Sports' 2023 All-MAC Team:
https://athlonsports.com/college-football/mac-football-2023-all-conference-team
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