2020 First Glance Week 3: Familiar Foe Ball State Comes to Bloomington
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Image: Ball State Athletics
Written By: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)
Week Three: Ball State Cardinals
Date & Time: Saturday, September 19, 2020, Time: TBA
Venue: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
TV: TBA
Cardinals at a Glance
Head Coach: Mike Neu
Entering his 4th year as Ball State’s Head Coach
Overall Record: 15-33
Last Season: 5-7 (4-4) Tied Third in the MAC West
Cardinals Returning Leaders
Passing: Drew Plitt (238-370 passing (64.32%), 2,918 yards, 24 TDs, 7 INTs)
Rushing: Caleb Huntley (248 rushes, 1275 yards, 5.1 YPC, 12TDs)
Receiving: Justin Hall (61 receptions, 684 yards, 6 TDs)
Tackles: LB Jaylin Thomas (97 tackles, 57 solo, 7.5 TFLs, 1 FR, 3 QBH)
Cardinals Preseason Predictions
Athlon: 3rd in the MAC West
Lindy’s: 4th in the MAC West
Phil Steele: Not Published
Street & Smith’s: 3rd in the MAC West
SP+: 84th (7 wins)
Impact Newcomers for the Cardinals
Sacred Heart transfer DL Chris Agyemang
WIU transfer DB J.T. Wahee
JUCO transfer DL Joshua Tarango
Biggest Questions Facing the 2020 Cardinals
1. Is this the year that Mike Neu’s Cardinals breakthrough and reach a bowl game?
2. How can the defensive line hold up?
3. Can the Cardinals turn their 2019 close defeats into 2020 victories?
Program Preview
In Mike Neu’s fifth year with the Cardinals, it appears as if it is officially “put up or shut up” time. The Cardinals were close to reaching a bowl game in 2019, but after dropping three games in the month of November by a combined margin of just eight points, they ultimately fell short despite their 4th best SP+ ranking in the MAC. With numerous players returning, Ball State has the makings of a bowl team if they can stay healthy and perform to their potential. The Cardinal administration has stuck with Neu through the injuries and near defeats, but this year seems to be crucial to Neu’s future in Muncie.
Offensive Preview
One of the most important pieces returning for the Cardinals will be quarterback Drew Plitt. Plitt snagged the full-time starting gig in 2019 after Riley Neal was a graduate transfer to Vanderbilt. Plitt threw for almost 3,000 yards, in the typical Ball State fashion of quick passes to their more dynamic playmaking receivers and relying on missed tackles and yards after the catch. Behind Plitt and a rotating offensive line (only two of five started every game), the Cardinal offense rose to 60th in offensive SP+.
An offensive line that returns six players with starting experience will be blocking primarily for returning running back Caleb Huntley. In 2019, Huntley combined with Edinboro transfer Walter Fletcher for over 2000 rushing yards. In a year where the running game was a bit of a question mark heading into the season after James Gilbert chose the graduate transfer route, Huntley gained much experience and should be primed for a breakout year in 2020.
The Cardinals will also return over 1100 yards of receiving production from 2019. Leading receiver Justin Hall has started every game since he stepped on campus in 2017 and caught at least one pass in every game as well. He currently sits fifth on Ball State’s all-time receptions chart and tenth in receiving yards. He’ll join deep-ball threat Yo’Heinz Tyler, whose 18.7 yards per reception average in 2019 ranked fifth on BSU’s single season chart. Tyler caught a 36-yard pass for a touchdown in the season opener against the Hoosiers last year.
Defensive Preview
The 2020 Cardinal defense will be led by new defensive coordinator Tyler Stockton. Though the 2019 defense seemed to have things figured out in the middle of the season, stumbling at the finish line ultimately led to David Elson’s departure and the promotion of Stockton.
Stockton has certainly earned his promotion. A former member of the 2012 Notre Dame squad that went to the BCS National Championship, Stockton already has defensive coordinator experience at FCS school Western Illinois. After a great year leading the linebackers last season, Stockton will return redshirt senior Jaylin Thomas, senior Christian Albright, and junior Jordan Williams to his linebacking room. The trio combined for 30% of the team’s havoc plays in 2019. Thomas had the most tackles of any returning player, Albright led the team in tackles for loss and forced fumbles, while Williams led the team in sacks and fumble recoveries.
Stockton will also have the fortune of returning numerous secondary players. Amechi Uzodinma II and Antonio Phillips should have no trouble manning the cornerback positions. All-MAC Second Team Uzodinma II tied for the MAC’s lead with five interceptions in 2019, which also ranked him seventh nationally. Phillips was an All-MAC First Team selection despite injuring himself in the penultimate game and having to miss the finale. His best game was actually the first against Indiana when he matched his career high of eight tackles and an interception. The duo will pair with Bryce Cosby at the safety position and transfer JT Wahee to man what should be a solid first rotation in the secondary.
Stockton’s biggest challenge in his first year as DC will be pulling together a rag-tag group at the defensive line. Especially when facing the Hoosiers just a week after traveling to Michigan, the somewhat small defensive line may be tired and struggle to get a push against the Hoosiers. The best returnee for the Cardinals will be James Jennette III, who started all 12 games and recorded 3.5 sacks in 2019. His goal will be to mesh with incoming transfers Chris Agyemang and Joshua Tarango and just be serviceable enough to allow the more productive linebackers behind them to make plays.
Special Teams Preview
Ball State will return punter Nathan Synder for his senior year. Snyder ranked fifth in the MAC with 11 punts of 50 or more yards and has a career high of 62 yards against Toledo last season. He also was the Cardinals’ full-time field goal holder, though in 2020 he will be holding for a new kicker as 2019 point’s leader Ryan Rimmler has graduated and will be replaced. No other kicker on the 2020 roster has had any game action, but redshirt junior Jack Chanove appears to be next in line based solely on tenure with the Cardinals.
Star receiver Justin Hall appears as if he could take over the punt and kick return duties, as the other most productive players in 2019 have graduated. Hall did return 4 punts in 2019 for 20 total yards and also received one kickoff which was returned for 23 yards.