Ball State 2018 Roster | Ball State 2018 Media Guide | Ball State 2018 Schedule
MUNCIE, Ind. – The 2017 season was a challenging one for the Ball State Cardinals as head coach Mike Neu saw injuries derail his squad early in the season as he lost seven of his 11 offensive starters en route to a 2-10 overall record, including 0-8 in the MAC West Division. The Cardinals were forced to use four different starting quarterbacks during last season.
Despite the injuries the ability for so many young players to gain playing experience should pay dividends this 2018 season. Neu has only nine seniors on his roster, second fewest among all FBS programs. Entering his third season in leading the Ball State football program, Neu will have 51 letterwinners and 19 starters (9 offense, 7 defense, 3 special teams) returning from last year’s team.
Ball State has a challenging non-conference schedule as the Cardinals open the season at home with Central Connecticut State on Aug. 30, then travel to Notre Dame on Sept. 8. The Cardinals travel to Indiana on Sept. 15, before hosting Western Kentucky on Sept. 22
Leading the offense is junior quarterback Riley Neal, who started only three games last year due to injury and currently ranks fifth on Ball State’s all-time passing leader list with 5,476 career passing yards. Junior running back James Gilbert will carry the load in the backfield after playing in only three games last year also due to injury and currently ranks ninth on the school’s career rushing list with 2,147 career rushing yards. Sophomore wide receiver Justin Hall had a breakout freshman season with 801 yards receiving and three touchdowns, despite the rotating quarterback situation last year.
Defensively linebackers Jacob White (72 tackles, 3 sacks), Brandon Martin (55 tackles) and Christian Albright (26 tackles, 4 tackles for loss) will be counted on to make plays. Safeties Bryce Cosby (59 tackles, 2 interceptions) and Romero Wade (39 tackles), along with defensive backs Josh Miller (37 tackles, 14 passes defensed) and Marc Walton (16 tackles) will lead the secondary.
August
30 Central Connecticut State, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
September
8 at Notre Dame, 3:30 pm ET (NBC)
15 at Indiana, Noon ET (Big Ten Network)
22 Western Kentucky
29 *Kent State
October
6 *NIU
13 *at Central Michigan
20 *Eastern Michigan, 3:00 pm ET (ESPN+)
25 *at Ohio, 7:00 pm ET (ESPN2/CBS Sports Network)
31 *at Toledo, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN2)
November
13 *Western Michigan, 6:00 pm ET (ESPN2)
20 *at Miami, 7:00 pm ET (ESPNU/ESPN+)
