Ball State University Athletics
Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics
Training Camp Ends with Luster Tabbed as QB1
August 25, 2026 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – The 2026 campaign brings a mix of returning contributors and newcomers to Ball State, as the Cardinals prepare to open the season Sept. 5 at Ohio State. Of those new additions, Keldric Luster takes the reigns of primary signal caller.
Luster joined Ball State this past spring out of the transfer portal after spending the 2025 season at Texas State, where he appeared in two games. Prior to that, the fourth year started his collegiate career at Southern Methodist University (SMU), seeing action in two games as a true freshman in 2023 and five games as a redshirt freshman in 2024. With nine career games under his belt entering 2026, Luster has rushed 16 times for 76 net yards and completed 4-of-12 passes for 37 yards.
A three-star recruit according to 247Sports, Luster was ranked the nation's No. 77 quarterback in the 247Sports Composite Rankings as a senior at McKinney High School. He transferred to the Lions from Liberty High School, playing for the same program as current Ball State assistant secondary coach Mayomi Olootu, who served as the defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach at McKinley until 2024.
2026 Preseason All-MAC honoree TJ Horton enters the season as the Cardinals' primary rusher heading into Sept. 5. Horton appeared in 10 games in 2025, rushing for 180 yards on 60 carries. As part of the specialists unit, Horton will also lead kickoff returns. He finished fifth in the Mid-American Conference last year with an average of 25.4 kickoff return yards (294 total). On Homecoming against Akron (Oct. 18), Horton clinched Ball State's 42-28 win with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Returning to his starting position in the receivers room is Donovan Hamilton, who made 11 starts in 2025. A 2026 Preseason All-MAC honoree, Hamilton recorded 20 catches for 244 yards, including seven receptions for 66 yards at Connecticut (Sept. 20). Jamarion McDougle and Isaiah Thacker enter their third and fourth years at Ball State, respectively, and will be heavy contributors to the Cardinals' offensive production. Thacker caught his first collegiate touchdown on a 15-yard pass play at Toledo (Nov. 22) last season, his longest play from scrimmage.
At tight end, Tate Hoover returns for his fourth year after contributing to all 12 games, including seven starts, in 2025.
Chris Hood, Cole Mosier, Tristan Cook and Grant Haworth return to their positions on the offensive line in 2026. The four are joined by Misael Sandoval, who previously served as a reserve offensive lineman at Vanderbilt from 2023-25. Also in the mix for reps up front are returning Cardinals Jackson Ruess and Kaden Mayle.
On defense, Ben Marsh and 2026 Preseason All-MAC member Ameir Glenn are familiar faces from last season who will make up the defensive line, while transfers Ka'Shawn Thomas and Jared Badie complete the unit. Badie spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons at Illinois before a two-year stint at San Diego State. In 2025, he appeared in all 12 games for the Aztecs, registering eight tackles.
Transfers Kaleb Stewart and Cincear Lewis fill the linebacker roles for the Cardinals to start the season. Lewis comes to Ball State with one year of eligibility remaining after a four-year stay at Cincinnati, where he appeared in six games. Stewart recorded 26 tackles and a pair of sacks over nine games during his lone year at Coffeyville Community College in 2025. As a true freshman the year before, Stewart earned his redshirt at Connecticut.
Derek "DJ" Fields and Will Yates make up the cornerback positions, while Deondre Shepherd and transfer Sterling "Stu" Smith will serve in the free safety and backside defender roles, respectively. At sniper is transfer Quentavious Scandrett, a former All-MAC candidate at Eastern Michigan from 2022-24 before appearing in three games with Arkansas in 2025.
On special teams, Brody Boehm handles kickoffs for Ball State, while Cole Stumbaugh will punt. Boehm will see his first taste of collegiate action in 2026 after earning a redshirt at Missouri in 2024 and missing the 2025 season due to injury.
Luster joined Ball State this past spring out of the transfer portal after spending the 2025 season at Texas State, where he appeared in two games. Prior to that, the fourth year started his collegiate career at Southern Methodist University (SMU), seeing action in two games as a true freshman in 2023 and five games as a redshirt freshman in 2024. With nine career games under his belt entering 2026, Luster has rushed 16 times for 76 net yards and completed 4-of-12 passes for 37 yards.
A three-star recruit according to 247Sports, Luster was ranked the nation's No. 77 quarterback in the 247Sports Composite Rankings as a senior at McKinney High School. He transferred to the Lions from Liberty High School, playing for the same program as current Ball State assistant secondary coach Mayomi Olootu, who served as the defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach at McKinley until 2024.
2026 Preseason All-MAC honoree TJ Horton enters the season as the Cardinals' primary rusher heading into Sept. 5. Horton appeared in 10 games in 2025, rushing for 180 yards on 60 carries. As part of the specialists unit, Horton will also lead kickoff returns. He finished fifth in the Mid-American Conference last year with an average of 25.4 kickoff return yards (294 total). On Homecoming against Akron (Oct. 18), Horton clinched Ball State's 42-28 win with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Returning to his starting position in the receivers room is Donovan Hamilton, who made 11 starts in 2025. A 2026 Preseason All-MAC honoree, Hamilton recorded 20 catches for 244 yards, including seven receptions for 66 yards at Connecticut (Sept. 20). Jamarion McDougle and Isaiah Thacker enter their third and fourth years at Ball State, respectively, and will be heavy contributors to the Cardinals' offensive production. Thacker caught his first collegiate touchdown on a 15-yard pass play at Toledo (Nov. 22) last season, his longest play from scrimmage.
At tight end, Tate Hoover returns for his fourth year after contributing to all 12 games, including seven starts, in 2025.
Chris Hood, Cole Mosier, Tristan Cook and Grant Haworth return to their positions on the offensive line in 2026. The four are joined by Misael Sandoval, who previously served as a reserve offensive lineman at Vanderbilt from 2023-25. Also in the mix for reps up front are returning Cardinals Jackson Ruess and Kaden Mayle.
On defense, Ben Marsh and 2026 Preseason All-MAC member Ameir Glenn are familiar faces from last season who will make up the defensive line, while transfers Ka'Shawn Thomas and Jared Badie complete the unit. Badie spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons at Illinois before a two-year stint at San Diego State. In 2025, he appeared in all 12 games for the Aztecs, registering eight tackles.
Transfers Kaleb Stewart and Cincear Lewis fill the linebacker roles for the Cardinals to start the season. Lewis comes to Ball State with one year of eligibility remaining after a four-year stay at Cincinnati, where he appeared in six games. Stewart recorded 26 tackles and a pair of sacks over nine games during his lone year at Coffeyville Community College in 2025. As a true freshman the year before, Stewart earned his redshirt at Connecticut.
Derek "DJ" Fields and Will Yates make up the cornerback positions, while Deondre Shepherd and transfer Sterling "Stu" Smith will serve in the free safety and backside defender roles, respectively. At sniper is transfer Quentavious Scandrett, a former All-MAC candidate at Eastern Michigan from 2022-24 before appearing in three games with Arkansas in 2025.
On special teams, Brody Boehm handles kickoffs for Ball State, while Cole Stumbaugh will punt. Boehm will see his first taste of collegiate action in 2026 after earning a redshirt at Missouri in 2024 and missing the 2025 season due to injury.
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