Ball State University Athletics
Remembering No. 22
June 12, 2026 | Football
Over 30 members of the Ball State football program – players, coaches and staff – travel this weekend to Florida to take part in funeral services for fallen teammate Gavin Yates-Lyons.
Yates-Lyons, a freshman enrolled last January in order to take part in spring workouts with the Cardinals, lost his life on May 30 following a shooting in Tallahassee on the morning of May 24. Yates-Lyons had returned home to participate in high school graduation ceremonies, May 23, from Lowndes High School (in Valdosta, Georgia).
An innocent victim in the early morning tragedy, Yates-Lyons had been on track to play his first college football season with the 2026 Cardinals. He was regarded as a versatile defensive back who may have seen playing time as a true freshman. One of the final sequences in Ball State's 2026 Spring Showcase, in fact, culminated with a Yates-Lyons' end zone interception.
To honor their teammate, Ball State team members will present Yates-Lyons' family with his No. 22 jersey following Saturday's services. Head coach Mike Uremovich, among those in attendance, has declared that the No. 22 jersey will not be worn at Ball State until Yates-Lyons' eligibility is exhausted following the 2030 season. His uniform and helmet remain in his locker.
To honor Yates-Lyons at the Cardinals' stadium and training facility, all hash marks at the 22-yard line have been painted red. Additional tributes, including a uniform patch or helmet decal, are being planned for the 2026 season.
The Ball State football family asks the Cardinals community to remember Gavin Yates-Lyons as he is laid to rest on Saturday, June 13.
Players Mentioned
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Tuesday, April 21
Friday, April 17