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2026 Ball State roster

117 players: 45 freshmen, 23 sophomores, 29 juniors, 20 seniors. From 19 states and 2 other countries; the most from Indiana (37) and Illinois (13). The 2026 season.

Quarterbacks 5

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
6Keldric Luster QBTransfer from Texas StateJr.5′10″248McKinney, TX1,066 passing yards, 7 TD
9Tyler Mizzell QBTransfer from ConcordJr.6′1″176Denver, NC260 passing yards, 1 TD
16Mason Atkins QBFr.6′3″210North Aurora, IL10 passing yards
13Khalel Wright QBFr.6′1″194Charlotte, NC
18Bodie Derrer QBSo.6′2″210Arcadia, IN

Running backs 6

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
4T.J. Horton RBJr.5′10″201Lexington, KY393 rushing yards, 7 TD
20Johnny Thompson Jr. RBTransfer from KansasJr.5′11″198Canoga Park, CA90 rushing yards
2Jalen Bonds RBFr.6′0″220Indianapolis, IN147 rushing yards, 2 TD
0Elijah Jackson RBJr.5′8″181Indianapolis, IN23 rushing yards
21Anthony McMullen Jr. RBFr.5′11″216Massillon, OH
25Char’Rese Breveard RBFr.5′8″175Elkhart, IN

Receivers 13

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
1Donovan Hamilton WRSo.6′4″217Fishers, IN22 catches, 273 yards, 1 TD
10Jamarion McDougle WRSr.6′0″180Deerfield Beach, FL21 catches, 201 yards, 1 TD
5Jabari Smith WRTransfer from Florida AtlanticJr.5′9″163Orlando, FL19 catches, 196 yards, 2 TD
11Isaiah Thacker WRJr.5′11″196New Palestine, IN15 catches, 152 yards
7C.J. Nelson WRTransfer from Eastern IllinoisSr.5′11″180North Richland Hills, TX11 catches, 83 yards
14Elisha Durham WRSo.6′1″168West Bloomfield, MI4 catches, 68 yards
85Ace Cooper WRFr.5′10″166Cincinnati, OH2 returns, 38 yards
83Eli Hohlt WRJr.6′0″1813 catches, 30 yards, 1 TD
15Tayshon Bardo WRFr.6′1″175Elkhart, IN1 catch, 13 yards
86D.J. Young WRTransfer from Siena HeightsJr.6′0″175Lafayette, IN1 catch, 21 yards
3Corey Thompson Jr. WRTransfer from Utah StateJr.5′10″167San Diego, CA
80Derion Talbert WRFr.5′8″162Lexington, KY
82T.J. Byard WRSo.6′1″180North Muskegon, MI

Tight ends 9

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
84Tate Hoover TEJr.6′2″254Manhattan, KS8 catches, 37 yards, 1 TD
12Alex Scherle TETransfer from RiceSr.6′4″234Rochester Hills, MI3 catches, 36 yards, 1 TD
8Mason Riggins TEFr.6′5″255Zionsville, IN
41Zach Becker TEFr.6′3″210Vernon Hills, IL
42A.J. Seymour TEFr.6′2″215Brookfield, WI
44Lucas Andresen TEFr.6′3″210Chicago, IL
81Leo Collins TEJr.6′3″233Evansville, IN
87Cole Coonrod TEJr.6′5″243Manhattan, KS
89Sean Ward TETransfer from DartmouthSr.6′5″255Cleveland, OH

Offensive line 21

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
56Jacob Jeudy OLTransfer from ConcordSr.6′3″289Miami, FL1 tackle
54Evan Downer OLFr.6′4″285Palatine, IL
55Michael Varon OLFr.6′3″308Palatine, IL
57Nolan Cicero OLFr.6′4″304Crown Point, IN
60Blake Scriber OLSo.6′2″287Cincinnati, OH
61Luke Dalton OLSr.6′5″300Crystal Lake, IL
62Sam Spicer OLFr.6′4″295Mount Juliet, TN
63Maxwell Wentz OLTransfer from DartmouthSr.6′4″295Huntington, WV
65Ryan Eldridge OLFr.6′7″289Goshen, IN
66Chris Hood OLSr.6′10″327Kendallville, IN
67Jackson Ruess OLJr.6′4″302
68Grant Haworth OLSo.6′2″299Fishers, IN
70Tristan Cook OLSo.6′6″291Lexington, KY
71Brady Barrowman OLFr.6′4″304Minooka, IL
72Brady Weber OLFr.6′5″275Greenwood, IN
73Cole Mosier OLJr.6′4″302Columbia City, IN
75Zach Bandy OLSo.6′5″293Avon, IN
76C.J. Zeltwanger OLFr.6′4″295West Lafayette, IN
77Misael Sandoval OLTransfer from VanderbiltJr.6′6″332Chula Vista, CA
78Kaden Mayle OLFr.6′5″274Fremont, OH
79Zion Haney OLFr.6′4″280Indianapolis, IN

Defensive line 19

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
7Ben Marsh DEJr.6′2″247Hilliard, OH12 tackles, 2 sacks
56Ameir Glenn DTSo.6′1″303Fairburn, GA15 tackles, 1 sack
39Maverick Gracio DETransfer from PittsburghJr.6′4″252West Palm Beach, FL14 tackles
94Ka’Shawn Thomas DTJr.6′1″292Brunswick, GA9 tackles, 0.5 sacks
10Austin Stief DETransfer from DavenportSr.6′4″246Orlando, FL5 tackles, 1 sack
95Keilan Smith DTTransfer from CincinnatiJr.6′2″326Pickerington, OH6 tackles
99Kendrick Gilbert DTTransfer from LouisvilleJr.6′4″271Indianapolis, IN6 tackles
54Spencer Vaka DTJr.6′1″299Shawnee, KS5 tackles
57Reese Hill DTSo.6′3″302Greenfield, IN2 tackles
52Michael Thacker DTFr.6′0″304New Palestine, IN1 tackle
91Jamar Birden DEFr.6′2″225Waycross, GA1 tackle
3George Okorie DESo.6′3″253Vancouver, BC
51C.J. Sanchez DTFr.6′5″250North Judson, IN
55Dominic Infelise DTFr.6′4″285New Lenox, IL
74Khristian Zachary DTSr.6′3″303Fayetteville, GA
90Lincoln Mason DTFr.6′6″285Wilsonville, OR
93Mason Holbrook DTFr.6′2″268Hamilton, OH
96Joshua Coleman DTFr.6′2″300Americus, GA
97Myles Hancock DTSo.6′1″280Corona, CA

Linebackers 13

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
16Kaleb Stewart LBSo.6′0″248Broward County, FL35 tackles, 1.5 sacks
27Gavin Forsha LBTransfer from Tennessee StateSr.6′2″224Nashville, TN32 tackles, 1 sack
6Cincear Lewis LBTransfer from CincinnatiSr.6′2″227Kalamazoo, MI33 tackles
26Lucas Szymborski LBFr.6′1″221Crown Point, IN22 tackles
42Layton Starks LBSo.6′4″237Versailles, KY19 tackles, 1 sack
25Mikeah Webster LBFr.6′1″243Sheridan, IN21 tackles
9Justin Thomas LBSr.6′0″242Flossmoor, IL12 tackles
31Jared Badie LBTransfer from San Diego StateSr.6′3″237Aurora, IL8 tackles, 1 sack
48Sam Feeney LBSo.6′2″205Indianapolis, IN7 tackles
40Gannon Knowles LBFr.6′0″210Indianapolis, IN1 tackle
15Jovan Clark LBTransfer from Washington StateFr.5′10″203Chicago, IL
36Cole Mynett LBFr.6′2″220Muncie, IN
50Carsen Burckhardt LBTransfer from ValparaisoFr.5′10″223Long Lake, MN

Defensive backs 24

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
1Stu Smith DBJr.6′0″201Indianapolis, IN36 tackles
4Willizhuan Yates DBJr.6′0″175Springboro, OH28 tackles, 1 INT
14Anthony Pinnace III DBSr.6′0″180Ypsilanti, MI30 tackles, 1 sack
33Quentavius Scandrett DBSr.6′3″210Clayton, GA29 tackles
13Kamron Chamble DBFr.5′11″184Port Orange, FL11 tackles, 2 INT
18Cedric Franklin II DBTransfer from Arkansas StateSo.6′0″193Mableton, GA10 tackles, 1 INT
5Chris Jackson DBTransfer from Colorado StateSr.5′11″164San Diego, CA13 tackles
12Deondre Shepherd DBSo.5′11″192McKinney, TX12 tackles
0Derek Fields Jr. DBJr.6′1″195Saint Charles, MO9 tackles
28Stone Perkins DBFr.5′11″197Louisville, KY9 tackles
24Gabe Aramboles DBFr.5′11″224Westfield, IN5 tackles
17Kamari Williams DBSo.6′2″180Baltimore, MD2 tackles
23Jordan Suggs DBSo.6′0″169O’Fallon, IL1 tackle
45Cole Earlewine DBJr.5′11″207Fishers, IN1 tackle
2Tobi Adewoyin DBSo.5′11″189Atlanta, GA
8Avery Stuart DBJr.6′1″204Montgomery, AL
11Donovan Lanier DBFr.6′0″176Winter Garden, FL
19Zyon Hill DBFr.6′4″200Fishers, IN
20Sebastian Moore DBFr.6′1″175Fort Wayne, IN
21Diant Griffin DBTransfer from Ohio StateSr.5′9″187Lima, OH
22Gavin Yates-Lyons DBFr.6′2″175Greenville, FL
29Micah Lillard DBSo.6′1″196Lafayette, IN
35Drew Bostic DBFr.5′9″175Brownsburg, IN
38Jayden Bernavil DBJr.5′7″188

Specialists 7

No.PlayerClassHtWtHometown2026
38Brody Boehm PKSo.6′1″208Westfield, IN5 of 8 field goals
92Cole Stumbaugh PSo.6′2″22333 punts, 43.2 average
45Caden Britton LSSr.5′10″208New Albany, OH2 tackles
19Lachlan Mathieson PFr.6′2″195Melbourne, VIC
34Coby Tripp LSFr.5′11″202Spring Arbor, MI
37Hudson Fiene PKJr.5′10″180Yorkville, IL
98Carson Holmer PKSr.6′1″210Avon, IN
Elijah Jackson, Stu Smith, Jalen Bonds, Gannon Knowles, Sam Feeney, Zion Haney, Kendrick GilbertDonovan Hamilton, Zyon Hill, Cole EarlewineT.J. Horton, Tristan Cook, Derion TalbertTayshon Bardo, Char’Rese Breveard, Ryan EldridgeBodie Derrer, Gabe Aramboles, Brody BoehmDrew Bostic, Zach Bandy, Carson HolmerZach Becker, Evan Downer, Michael VaronCorey Thompson Jr., Chris JacksonJabari Smith, Austin StiefKeldric Luster, Deondre ShepherdIsaiah Thacker, Michael ThackerJovan Clark, Lucas AndresenMason Atkins, Jared BadieLucas Szymborski, Nolan CiceroMicah Lillard, D.J. YoungBlake Scriber, Ace CooperTate Hoover, Cole CoonrodDerek Fields Jr.Tobi AdewoyinWillizhuan YatesCincear LewisBen MarshC.J. NelsonAvery StuartMason RigginsJustin ThomasTyler MizzellJamarion McDougleDonovan LanierAlex ScherleKamron ChambleKhalel WrightAnthony Pinnace IIIElisha DurhamKamari WilliamsCedric Franklin IIJohnny Thompson Jr.Sebastian MooreAnthony McMullen Jr.Diant GriffinGavin Yates-LyonsJordan SuggsMikeah WebsterGavin ForshaStone PerkinsCole MynettHudson FieneMaverick GracioA.J. SeymourLayton StarksCaden BrittonCarsen BurckhardtSpencer VakaDominic InfeliseAmeir GlennJacob JeudyReese HillLuke DaltonSam SpicerMaxwell WentzChris HoodBrady BarrowmanBrady WeberCole MosierKhristian ZacharyC.J. ZeltwangerMisael SandovalKaden MayleLeo CollinsT.J. ByardSean WardLincoln MasonJamar BirdenMason HolbrookKa’Shawn ThomasKeilan SmithJoshua ColemanMyles HancockIN 37IL 13OH 11FL 9GA 8
Hometowns of the 2026 Ball State roster; the five states sending the most labeled with their players. Hover a dot for names. Map: us-atlas (public domain).

Where the roster comes from

By state

  1. Indiana 37
  2. Illinois 13
  3. Ohio 11
  4. Florida 9
  5. Georgia 8
  6. Michigan 6
  7. California 5
  8. Kentucky 5

Top counties

  1. Hamilton County, Indiana pop. 365,000 8
  2. Marion County, Indiana pop. 976,000 7
  3. Cook County, Illinois pop. 5.2 million 5
  4. San Diego County, California pop. 3.3 million 3
  5. Orange County, Florida pop. 1.5 million 3

Hometowns placed in their counties with the US Census Bureau’s Gazetteer files. Populations from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–⁠2024 5-year estimates. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau. Which states send the most FBS players for their size.

Rosters from CollegeFootballData.com, as the school listed them, each group in order of its players’ 2026 production (yards, tackles, kicks), then by number. Hometowns are each player’s latest on file. Transfers are this season’s arrivals through the portal; stars are the player’s 247Sports composite rating as a recruit.