Ball State University Athletics
2026 Football Roster
Jersey Number 0
Derek "DJ" Fields
- Position:
- Defensive Back
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-1 / 195
- Class:
- Redshirt Junior
- Hometown:
- Saint Charles, Mo.
- Prev School:
- Chaminade HS
- High School:
- Chaminade
Fields begins his fourth year in the Ball State program, returning with Will Yates as the only returning starters on defense (Fields 8, Yates 7 last season) ... expected to start at the field safety position in 2026 ... "He's got size and he's really athletic," said Uremovich. "He's a dynamic defender." ... all-conference candidate in his junior season ... wore #15 in 2025, but switched to #0 for 2026 to reflect his Christian values in a humble comparison with God: "I'm nothing," he said ... goes by the nickname DJ.
2025 (R-So.): Appeared in 11 games with eight starts ... secondary leader with 34 tackles, tied with Will Yates ... earned first college start at UConn (9/20), and started every game thereafter ... did not play at Toledo (11/22) ... season-high six tackles at Auburn (9/6) and UConn (9/20) ... pass break-ups at Purdue (8/30) and UConn (9/20) ... recorded five stops and a tackle for loss at Western Michigan (10/11).
2024 (R-Fr.): Saw nine games of action, mostly on special teams ... logged eight tackles, including two solos.
2023 (Fr.): Saw no game action and earned a redshirt.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Chaminade College Prep where he played two years of varsity … earned first-team all-conference as a junior and senior … also voted as a team captain in his senior season.
PERSONAL: Son of Derek Fields Sr. and Muffy Fields … favorite athletes are Deion Sanders and Ed Reed … wants to pursue the NFL after college.
2025 (R-So.): Appeared in 11 games with eight starts ... secondary leader with 34 tackles, tied with Will Yates ... earned first college start at UConn (9/20), and started every game thereafter ... did not play at Toledo (11/22) ... season-high six tackles at Auburn (9/6) and UConn (9/20) ... pass break-ups at Purdue (8/30) and UConn (9/20) ... recorded five stops and a tackle for loss at Western Michigan (10/11).
2024 (R-Fr.): Saw nine games of action, mostly on special teams ... logged eight tackles, including two solos.
2023 (Fr.): Saw no game action and earned a redshirt.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Chaminade College Prep where he played two years of varsity … earned first-team all-conference as a junior and senior … also voted as a team captain in his senior season.
PERSONAL: Son of Derek Fields Sr. and Muffy Fields … favorite athletes are Deion Sanders and Ed Reed … wants to pursue the NFL after college.
Tuesday, June 30
Tuesday, June 30
Monday, June 29
Monday, June 29
