By Daniel Sullivan l daniel.sullivan@bsu.edu
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State Football is moments away from kicking off its 100th season campaign against Missouri State (0-1). After the Cardinals came off of a 4-8 season, just narrowly missing out on a bowl game, expectations among the team are high.
“I think this team’s capable of everything we ever want,” junior tight end Tanner Koziol said. “I think we have the tools to do it, we have the coaches to do it, and we have the heart to want to do it. And I’m expecting a Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship and nothing less.”
Just after last season, Koziol decided to enter the transfer portal. However, after only a few months of commitment to Louisville, he decided to return to Ball State. Koziol is looking to take a massive step forward this year after being third on the team in passing yards (295) and leading the team in touchdowns (3) last season.
Koziol will be sharing the spotlight with redshirt freshman quarterback Kaden Semonza who appeared in only four games last season for the Cardinals. Splitting time with three different quarterbacks last season, he showed flashes, especially against Kentucky with 165 yards and a touchdown. Despite his youth, Semonza has quickly earned a veteran-like reputation among his teammates in the locker room.
“[Semonza’s] grown so much vocally,” Koziol said. “He’s maturing. He practices like a pro, and he treats the game like a pro, and he’s in the film room like a pro. And it’s really cool to see a kid that young already attacking the game the way it’s meant to be attacked.”
Standout wide receiver Ty Robinson returns to the field after having his 2023 season cut due to injury. The redshirt junior had 111 yards on six catches with a touchdown in his two games last season. He returns as a top passing target for the Cardinals, in a wide receiver room that is loaded with talent.
Along with a talented backfield, one of the biggest strengths of the 2024 team will be the offensive line. With over 115 collegiate starts between the five starters, they are one of the most experienced groups not only in the MAC but in the country.
One of these experienced linemen is senior Ethan Crowe, who after an injury last season, nearly stepped away from the game of football. But after a short break, Crowe couldn’t keep himself away. After consultation with parents and coaches and heavy persuasion from his teammates, Crowe decided to return for his fifth and final year of college football.
“It was a very tough decision,” Crowe said. “I’ve been playing football for as long as I can remember. I’ve been playing O-line and D-line since I was born. I took a little break, and then realized, hey, I’m missing football a lot. I love the sport. I miss everything about it.”
Crowe notes a difference between this year’s team and teams of old is the arrival of their new strength coach, Dan Wenger. Wenger brought a new intensity to the team’s weightlifting sessions, and Crowe gives him credit for turning the team’s culture in the weight room around.
“Our numbers have gone up a lot,” Crowe said. “I feel like, especially now that we’re in camp where all we’re focusing on is football, you can really feel the added strength. We’re not lifting as much, but can see that strength really showing out on the field. We’re able to move people off the ball. We love it.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the Cardinals’ defense is loaded with transfer portal talent. Ranging from the Division III level to power five football, the Cardinals have added depth to nearly every position on an already deep defensive roster.
The portal-heavy Cardinals will be led by first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Knowles, who previously filled the same role at Butler. In his two years, Butler’s defense was among FCS leaders in red zone defense and finished in the top ten in scoring defense and top 25 in total defense.
Junior linebacker Justin Thomas joins the Cardinals from the University of Indianapolis, along with Defensive backs George Udo from Cincinnati and Myles Norwood from Iowa State. The Cardinals also added a handful of defensive linemen that are likely to see minutes throughout the season.
“We have a lot of new guys on the [Defensive]-line,” senior linebacker Keionte Newson said. “They’re hungry. They’re a little nasty. They want to make an impact. They fill gaps on the line and they get off the edge, which makes my job easier.”
A notable piece of the defensive core, Newson, is one of the only remaining members of the 2020 MAC Championship Team. A redshirt freshman at the time, Newson recalls the emotions of capturing Ball State’s first MAC title in 24 years.
“I didn’t get to participate too much with that 2020 championship team,” Newson said. “I want these guys to feel what I felt in the locker room at that time, and then for me myself, I want to make more of a name for myself, break some records and just keep going and define all the odds.”
Another piece is red-shirt junior defensive back, Kiael Kelly, who like Koziol also decided to return to Ball State after flirting with the transfer portal. Despite being labeled as a quarterback last season, and even getting a few games as the starter, is switching to the role of defensive back. Kelly will be a fascinating storyline to watch throughout the season as he grows into his new role.
Overall, despite an action-packed offseason, Ball State’s mindset for this season is quite simple; play together and the victories will come.
Ball State will kick off its season against Missouri State (0-1) on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. from Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Ind.