Junior wide receiver Dante Ridgeway announced Thursday that he will leave Ball State and become eligible for April's National Football League Draft.
Ridgeway, a Second-Team All-America and Biletnikoff Award finalist, had one season of eligibility remaining. He played as a true freshman in 2002, the first of three seasons in which he was Ball State's leading receiver.
Head coach Brady Hoke said he hates to see Ridgeway leave, but the move did not surprise him.
"He made a decision that's best for him and his family," Hoke said. "I support him all the way, and I told him that from the beginning."
Ridgeway could not be reached for comment.
Ridgeway is the first Ball State football player to leave school early for the NFL Draft. Basketball forward Theron Smith entered the NBA Draft in 2003 with a year remaining. Numerous baseball players, including first-round selections Bryan Bullington, Larry Bigbie and Brad Snyder, left after three seasons.
In 2004, Ridgeway led the nation with 105 catches for 1,399 yards, along with eight touchdowns. The yardage figure shattered Dave Naumcheff's mark of 1,065 in 1983, while his receptions easily topped his old standard of 82 in 2003.
Over his three-year career, Ridgeway totaled 231 catches for 2,655 yards (both school records) and 22 touchdowns. Deon Chester holds the TD record with 24.
"I'm excited for Dante," receivers coach Jeff Hecklinski said. "He's obviously earned and deserves everything he's got coming.
"This is a good situation for Dante and for Ball State. It's shows that we're starting to develop talent and produce impact players. It's by no means a sad day. It's a happy day."
When the 2004 season finished in November, Ridgeway said he would look into entering the draft. Hoke made inquiries to a committee of NFL personnel executives, who feel that Ridgeway will go no higher than the second round of the draft - which goes for seven rounds.
"We talked a lot during the break, and we had our last meeting today. I think he was up in the air for a while."
Hoke added that he wants Ridgeway to complete his degree and believes he will work toward it.
Without Ridgeway, Ball State is left with a group of returning receivers that was banged up and largely underachieved in 2004. Besides him, only junior-to-be Bryan Williamson caught more than 13 balls.
The 6-foot-3-inch Williamson had 21 catches for 168 yards. Running back Adell Givens (13 for 137), sophomore Dan Dunford (12-111), junior Terry Moss (12-105) and senior Ryan Hahaj (10-97) also had double-figure reception totals for 2004.
Hahaj has 62 career catches for 627 yards, and Williamson has 57 for 618.
"I've talked to a few of (the receivers)," junior quarterback Joey Lynch said. "It's tough, but you're happy for (Ridgeway). The other guys haven't had the opportunity to make many plays, but they're ready to go."
"They know what they have to do," Hecklinski said. "It may not be one guy; it may be four guys. You'll find that playmakers come in all shapes and sizes."
Hoke and Hecklinski insist that Ridgeway leaving will not affect the offensive game plan for 2005. Hoke compared it to losing a player to a season-ending injury.
"I think we had to plan, even if he was here," Hoke said, "to distribute the ball to other guys."
Ridgeway's departure gives Ball State the chance to have an unprecedented three players drafted. Two seniors, safety Justin Beriault and punter Reggie Hodges, were invited earlier this week to February's NFL Draft Combine. Chicago Bears' punter Brad Maynard and Buffalo Bills' defensive end Keith McKenzie are the two current NFL players from Ball State.
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