Over The Pylon

This is the first of a 2 part series evaluating the losses to graduation that Ball State will face before we get to the incoming players and prospects in our Cardinal Recruiting Series beginning next week. Thanks for your blood, sweat, and tears gentlemen. It’s truly appreciated. The first unit up? The offense.

Name: Jordan Applegate
Number: 70
Position: C
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 300
Career Stats: 5 games played, 0 games started.
Replaceability: Jordan Applegate, a convert from defensive tackle to center after his freshman season, didn’t see much field time during his career in Cardinal and White, spelling folks when needed, and perhaps becoming a victim of poor timing and stacked talent in front of him on the offensive line for the majority of his career. Applegate came in one year after the emergence of talents like Dan Gerberry, Robert Brewster, and Andre Ramsey, who now find themselves playing on Sundays in the NFL. With Kreg Hunter emerging this year as the center of choice for Parrish and the Cards, the offensive line will not lose an integral piece.

Name: Chad Davis
Number: 69
Position: OT
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 280
Career Stats: 3 games played, 0 games started.
Replaceability: Former walk on Chad Davis never saw much action for the Cardinals, and like many offensive line folks over the past several seasons, that can be attributed more to the stellar class ahead of him and the need to get young players ready in classes behind him. Though a bit undersized for BCS level offensive linemen, Davis’ story is yet another of several on this roster of folks who made it to this level more so for effort and determination instead of God-given ability.

Name: Tanner Justice
Number: 17
Position: QB
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 205
Career Stats: 35 games played, 5 starts. 56-111 passing, 648 yds, 5 INTs, 2 TDs.
Replaceability: Justice was the unfortunate victim of circumstance in 2009, as Kelly Page’s injury against Bowling Green. Justice would go on to start the final 5 games for Ball State, leading the team to two wins in the process. Considering Justice was a career back up, he played serviceable for the Cardinals, and was the starter in every win in the 09 campaign. Going forward, the Cardinals have depth at the QB position unlike recent years, as Page will return to a starter role, and Aaron Mershman (on redshirt in 09) will compete for reps as well.

Offensive Recap
Players Lost: 3
Staters Lost: 0

While technically a “starter” in that he started several games, Justice was only in that particular depth chart slot because of Page’s injury. As such, he gets ruled a back up by the highly scientific process of OTP. On paper, and assuming this holds, this is quite the opposite of last year, which saw 10 players, 6 of whom were starters, bid Muncie adieu. The key element to that statement above is “assuming this holds”.

Currently, there are two offensive weapons that are multi-year starters and holding their breath (figuratively) to hear from the NCAA regarding a medical redshirt and a 6th year of eligibility. TE Madaris Grant and RB MiQuale Lewis both are awaiting a decision from Indianapolis that not only has ramifications for them, but also Ball State. Assuming the best, that both Quale and Grant are back next season, this Cardinal offense looks to be potent. With another year of seasoning for Kelly Page, the return of the 3rd best rusher in Ball State history, as well as the offensive line with a year of seasoning and offseason work, Ball State looks to be markedly improved on the offensive side of the football.

The most interesting dynamic for this offense to manage will be the sheer number of returning starters and how Parrish and company manage to keep everyone happy and productive. As we saw this season, the Cardinal backfield is an exceptionally crowded place. On the recruiting trail for the Cardinals, there were no specific holes to fill on the offensive side of the ball, but the Cardinals have managed 8 verbal commitments for the offense. The highest rated prospect from Scout.com is TE David Schneider from Moeller High School in Cincinnati.

Filed under: Ball State, SeniorSendoff |