Uremovich and Cardinals Host Spring Showcase, Saturday at 1 p.m., with Donation Benefit for Muncie Mission

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

Uremovich and Cardinals Host Spring Showcase, Saturday at 1 p.m., with Donation Benefit for Muncie Mission

April 09, 2025 | Football

2025 Spring Roster (PDF)2025 Season Tickets

2025 Spring Showcase Football Game
Spring Showcase	Saturday, April 12 at 1:00 p.m. 2025 Spring Football Roster (PDF) \| No Live Coverage
Tickets and Gameday Info	Admission is Free \| Donate Canned Goods for Muncie Mission \| 2025 Season Tickets
Game Notes and Media Info	2025 Spring Football Roster (PDF) \| Media Center
Social Media	X (Twitter) \| Instagram \| Facebook

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State football fans are eager to get a first public glimpse of the Cardinals' new squad under first-year coach Mike Uremovich. Saturday at 1:00 p.m., on the turf at Scheumann Stadium, is the time for that first viewing. Admission is free, and alums and spectators who attend Saturday's Showcase are asked by Uremovich to bring any canned food items as a donation to Muncie Mission. Collection bins for donations will be located outside Gate 1 at the stadium's northwest corner.

This year's annual showcase game completes a slate of 15 spring practices. Formatted much like any of those practices, the two-hour workout will feature 11-on-11 contact in a variety of situational scrimmages.

The Cardinals have welcomed 25 newcomers this spring, including 15 transfers and 10 high school signees. Five of those signees -- Brady Barrowman, Ryan Eldridge, Mason Riggins, DJ Williams and CJ Zeltwanger -- are grayshirts who were signed a year ago and delayed their enrollment; five more -- Toby Adewoyin, Kamron Chamble, Elisha Durham, Donovan Lanier and Michael Thacker -- were signed as part of Uremovich's first signing class and enrolled this spring.

While a handful of those freshman newcomers will see time among the Cardinals' top units, the most impactful group includes 15 transfers, many of whom may be featured on the Cardinals' two-deep next fall.

On offense Saturday, five big transfer names will see action. Qua Ashley is a junior running back who transferred to Ball State from Kennesaw State. Elijah Jackson is a transfer running back from Purdue, and Eric Weatherly is a transfer receiver from Bucknell. The fourth is Walter Taylor III, a junior quarterback who has navigated his way to Muncie by way of Vanderbilt, for two years, and Colorado in 2024. A fifth is graduate tight end Drew Cassens who migrates to Ball State after playing under Uremovich at Butler last year. Uremovich, the head coach, calls the plays in his own offensive system.

Taylor and returning QB Kiael Kelly are expected to receive the bulk of snaps behind center during Saturday's Showcase. Ashley and Weatherly were all-conference picks last season, and Jackson, a former speedster from Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis, is expected to receive ample carries alongside Ashley and returning backs TJ Horton and Jalen Alexander.

The biggest influx of new stars resides on the defense where Jeff Knowles returns as the defensive coordinator and welcomes a cast of talent to supplement five returning starters. Last year, the Cardinals' defense struggled with 10 brand new starters including a pair of freshman cornerbacks. But improvements during the second half of the season -- plus added maturity, greater size, nine transfer reinforcements and contagious enthusiasm from a new staff -- have fostered a significant dose of optimism.

Top defenders last season, linebacker Joey Stemler and defensive tackle Drew Hughes anticipate starting roles again in 2025, and now-sophomore corners Eric McClain and Will Yates will be in the running for starting backfield roles. FCS transfer Nathan Voorhis, from Bryant University, will see time at defensive end. Another Butler transfer, Ashton Nawrocki, will see snaps on the defensive line, too. Ashton Whitner, from Old Dominion, will see time at sniper, the hybrid linebacker/safety in Knowles' scheme, and Alfred Chea, from UConn and JC transfer Micah Wing will join returning stars Stemler and Jack Beebe at linebacker. The secondary will be dotted with new transfer talent to join McClain, Yates and returning safety Jordan Coleman: Michael Gravely Jr., from Western Michigan, Roman Pearson from Bucknell, Deondre Shepherd from Coastal Carolina and Avery Stuart from Kentucky.

Special teams units welcome another transfer, Westfield native and former Missouri kicker Brody Boehm. While Jackson Courville and Carson Holmer are expected to hold down placekicking duties, Boehm should battle Cole Stumbaugh for reps as the Cardinals punter.

All told, the Uremovich-led Cardinals replace 17 starters from last season, whether by graduation or the transfer portal. The lone unit that has not been impacted by transfers this spring has been the offensive line which, despite the loss of prominent starters Ethan Crowe, Damon Kaylor, Jon Mucciolo and Taran Tyo, a deep cast of promising youngsters returns. Six-foot-10 left tackle Chris Hood returns after eight starts last season, and Tristan Cook returns to anchor the right side after a preseason injury derailed his bid as a starter a year ago. Another O-lineman with starting experience, Cole Mosier, also returns from an injury in 2024. Mosier could see time at center. Last year's backup center, Isaac Lucas, could see time at either center or guard. Others in the mix this spring have been Luke Dalton, a 2024 transfer who made one start last year, sophomore Eli Freeman, freshmen Zach Bandy and CJ Zeltwanger, and converted linebacker Jackson Constantine. Not to be left out in the transfer sphere, former Butler all-conference tackle Adam Dolan (6-8, 300 lbs) signed with the Cardinals in February and will join Ball State this summer.

With a new regime and new energy, optimism is rampant around the Ball State football center. After Saturday's Spring Showcase, the Cardinals report for fall camp on July 29 and open the 2025 season at Purdue on Aug. 30. Students and families will be welcomed back to Scheumann Stadium again for Family Weekend to kick off the home schedule against New Hampshire on Sept. 13

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