Jalen Bonds

Photo by: Sam Findley/Ball State Athletics

Position:
Running Back
Ht./Wt.:
6-0 / 220
Class:
Redshirt Freshman
Hometown:
Indianapolis, Ind.
Prev School:
Cathedral HS
High School:
Cathedral HS

Redshirt freshman should become a mainstay in the Cardinals' backfield this season ... Ball State's top rusher in the final two games of 2025, he preserved a redshirt season and retains four years of eligibility ... potential All-MAC candidate is "very talented," according to head coach Mike Uremovich who often saw Bonds play in high school while watching his sons on the same Cathedral team ... will be a physical ball-carrying option alongside TJ Horton and Johnny Thompson.

2025 (Fr.): Appeared in the season's final three games after recovering from a preseason injury ... in part due to other backfield injuries, Bonds was designated as the starting running back in each of those three games ... made his college debut with six rushing yards on four carries against Eastern Michigan (Nov. 15) ... rushed for 58 yards and caught passes for 54 yards at Toledo (11/22), to record the most scrimmage yards (112) by a Ball State freshman since Carson Steele in 2021 ... rushed seven times for 13 yards and his first college TD at Miami (11/29) in the season finale ... 71 rushing yards over the last two games were tops among Cardinals running backs.

HIGH SCHOOL: Arrived in Muncie after a standout career with perennial Indianapolis-area powerhouse Cathedral … rushed for 1,507 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career with the Irish … saw limited touches in his senior campaign due to injury, but posted a stellar junior season, which earned him all-state honors … named to IndyStar’s 2024 preseason Super Team … chose Ball State over Mid-American Conference foes Toledo and Miami.