Muncie, Indiana – The revolving door of college football players entering and exiting the transfer window has slowed last week.
According to NCAA transfer portal data, there were 2,538 subdivision football players who entered the transfer portal in 2021. Data for 2022 (August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022) is not yet available, but this number is expected to increase since Nearly 1,000 more players entered the portal last year compared to 2020 (1,583).
But, since the May 1 deadline for immediate eligibility in the fall – a player can still apply for an exemption to become immediately eligible if they enter the portal after May 1 – has passed, a significant proportion of players who will enter the portal have already passed I did.
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Ball State, like any other Mid-American Conference program and, frankly, every major college football program, has seen a lot of roster changes this season. Here’s a look at how the Cardinals’ roster has changed since last season ended:
Transfers coming to Ball State
Kyle King, formerly of New Palestine and serving in Michigan’s Defense Line, announced his commitment on January 3. At MSU, King scored four tackles and three defensive passes in seven games.
► Junior Safety In Indianapolis, Lauren Strickland entered the transfer gate on November 16. He joined this spring. Strickland has recorded 79 tackles (62 singles), 1 interception and 15 assists defended in 19 UIndy games.
►McKendree Jr.’s outside linebacker Sydney Houston Jr. announced his commitment on January 4th. He joined this spring. In 2021, Houston scored 70 tackles, 10.5 TFL sands, and six bags.
► Former Iowa State and Xavier Safety Jaquan Amos announced his commitment as a graduate transition on January 8. He joined this spring. Amos was part of Vilanova’s 2017 class, where he scored 149 tackles, eight interceptions, 25 defensive passes and three mandatory fumbles in three seasons. He only scored twice in his one season in Iowa.
Junior basketball player Chase White announced his commitment to the Ball State on January 31. He appeared in all 12 games for the Hoosiers, being the team’s primary title holder.
The Indiana Wesleyan kicker/gambler Ben von Gunten announced his commitment on February 14 as an alumni move. He made 36 of 51 career field goals (70.59%) and had 47 yards long. He also served as the team’s kickoff specialist and averaged 41.3 yards per kick. Ball State didn’t have any kickers on its list for the spring.
Junior offensive lineman Beau Taylor ►UCLA announced his commitment on March 28. Taylor was a potential three-star in high school, and had never seen a match in three seasons with the Bruins.
Vanderbilt’s broad receiver, Amir Abd al-Rahman, announced his commitment on May 6. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver was played in 36 games for the Commodores, recording 44 catches for 632 yards and three TDs. Abdul Rahman could immediately become a prime target for John Paddock with the Pro Football Focus pick up pre-season.
Transfers leaving the university
► Frischmann inside full-back Charlie entered the transfer window on December 9.
►Redshirt rookie quarterback Eddie Schutt Butler commits to January 3rd. The distinguished former Southport player hasn’t seen a game in three years at BSU.
Junior Redshirt wide receiver Jalen McGaughy entered the transfer gate on January 18. A great playmaker, McGaughy only had eight passes for 295 yards (36.9 yards per catch) and four TDs at the Ball State.
Small kicker Jacob Lewis entered the transfer window on January 3. He announced his commitment to Minnesota on January 31. Serving as a Ball State team kick-off specialist and long field goal kicker, Lewis averaged 57.6 yards per kickoff and went 12 for 16. In field goals.
New footballer Isaac Daniels and longtime snapper Aiden Doyle have entered the transfer window.
►Redshirt junior cornerback Jerwuan Thomas entered the transfer portal on February 25, according to the NCAA Transfer Portal on Twitter. He played two career games at BSU, scoring one interference against Eastern Michigan.
Chevalier Brenson’s wide receiver entered the carriage on March 25. He announced that he had received offers from Illinois, Missouri, Northern Iowa, and Tennessee. Brinson, a three-star recruit from Missouri, could have been one of the top candidates entering this season.
► On April 20, days after the April 16 Spring Ball State game, freshmen Raiquin Lee (backward), Drayton Charlton-Perrin (narrow end), Garrett Frantz (wide receiver), Darian Hanley (wide receiver) and Marcavon Brownlee (running backwards) they all entered the transfer gate. Nobody saw work in their freshman year at BSU. Charlton Perrin announced his commitment to Murray State on May 2.
Freshman Safety Jordan Marshall entered the transfer gate on April 21.
Tye Evans, the red-shirted racer, entered the transfer gate on May 2. Evans sat out the 2021 season due to injury. In 2020, he ran the ball 80 times for 360 yards (4.5 yards) and two touchdowns. Evans did not feature in the spring game at Ball State and with Carson Steele and Will Jones back on the field, it was uncertain what his role would be in this season.
Other notes
Corey Connolly was promoted to Special Teams Coordinator on January 21, 2022. The news came a week and a half after Patrick Dougherty was appointed to Duke. Connolly has been a member of the Ball State since 2015 as an outside quarterback coach and recruiting coordinator.
Former Western Illinois coach Jared Elliott joined the Ball State staff on February 8 as the passing coordinator/tight ends coach. He has been a member of the Leathernics squad since 2016, serving as the head coach for the past four seasons. It was announced that he and Western Illinois mutually agreed to secede on November 9.
► On April 18, graduating quarterback Brandon Martin announced that he will be returning to Ball State for season seven, the final season of his eligibility. Martin, MAC’s 2020 Combined Defense Player of the Year, played only five games in 2021 due to injury. He also played only one game in 2019. In 38 career games, Martin scored 237 tackles, 10.5 TFL, two bags, two interceptions and four assists.
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Robby General covers Ball State and East Central Indiana high school sports for the Star Press. Reach out to him via email rgeneral@gannett.com or on Twitter @rgeneraljr.