The Ball State University football team announced this afternoon that 22 players have signed national letters of intent to play for the Cardinals. Below is a list of the players.
Jelani Alford Running back Cincinnati (Withrow High School)Alford had 375 rushing yards and 765 all-purpose yards in his senior season. He also won the district 100-meter and 200-meter dash in track this year.
David Brown Running backShelbyville (Shelbyville High School)Brown was named to the Associated Press and Indiana Football Coaches Association All-State team during his senior year. He also set the school record for touchdowns in a single season with 30 and holds the program record for career points with 180.
Otis Brown Wide receiverGainesville, Fla. (Gainesville High School)Brown was named the 2008 District Player of the Year. He finished the season with 900 receiving yards and 348 rushing yards. His cousin, Mike Natiel, plays for the Minnesota Vikings.
Ethan Buckles Defensive endIndianapolis (Cardinal Ritter)Buckles received all-conference honors as Cardinal Ritter won the 2008 state championship. He finished the season with 73 tackles, nine sacks, three forced fumbles and safety.
Justin Cruz LinebackerGreen Cove Springs, Fla. (Fleming Island)Cruz had a team-high 110 tackles, including three sacks and 11 tackles for loss, during his senior season. Fleming Island started the season 7-0 and won its first district championship in program history.
Armand DehaneyCorner back Maple Heights, Ohio (Walsh Jesuit)Dehaney was named the team's most valuable player after rushing for 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns in his senior season. Defensively, he had 125 tackles and six interceptions during his high school career.
Theon Dixon, Jr. LinebackerCleveland (Glenville High School)Dixon, an all-conference player, had 55 tackles, three sacks and three interceptions in 2008. Glenville was ranked No. 1 in the state throughout the season.
Zane Fakes Tight endPlainfield (Plainfield High School)Fakes rushed for 2,233 yards and had 29 touchdowns as a senior. He also had 87 tackles as Fakes was named to the Associated Press and Indiana Football Coaches Association All-State team.
Travis Freeman LinebackerCleveland (Glenville High School)As a senior team captain, Freeman had 97 tackles, six sacks and two interceptions. He finished his high school career on the 2008 all-state team and had a career 41-4 record.
Jacob Green Tight endWyoming, Ohio (Wyoming High School)Green is the Rivals.com No. 1 tight end in Ohio and No. 27 in the nation. A four-time member of the all-academic state team, Green was named Wyoming's most outstanding defensive player as a senior. In the 2008 season, he had 15 catches for 243 yards after missing four games with an injury.
Donovan JarrettDefensive lineHamilton, Ohio (Hamilton High School)Jarrett was an honorable mention on the 2008 all-state team. During his senior season he had 65 tackles and led the area with nine sacks.
Brandon Kish Running backAmherst, Ohio (Steele High School)Kish rushed for more than 600 yards as a senior. He also was named to the all-district second team during his sophomore year.
Keith Langtry Wide receiverPrairie Village, Ka. (Rockhurst High School)Langtry won three district titles and one state championship during his high school career. The wide receiver set school records for career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Tony Martin LinebackerPark Hills, Mo.Martin was named to the all-state team as a senior. He finished the season with 1,387 rushing yards, 539 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.
Aaron Mershman QuarterbackBowling Green, Ohio (Bowling Green High School)Mershman graduated from high school in December and is currently enrolled at Ball State for the spring semester. Mershman played three sports in high school - football, track and hockey - and was finalist for the Joe Montana Award as a senior. During his junior he was 102-of-213 for 1,461 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Evan Neff Offensive linemanCenterville, Ohio (Archbishop Alter)Neff was named to the all-state team as a senior. Archbishop Alter was No. 73 on Rivals.com.
Kitt O'Brien Offensive linemanWalton (Lewis Cass High School)O'Brien was in the Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50 during his senior year. He also was named the 2008 Kokomo Tribune Defensive Player of the Year.
Matthew Page Offensive linemanEast Chicago (Central High School)Page was named to the Hammond Times All-Area First Team during his sophomore season and the Gary Post Tribune All-Area Second Team as a senior.
Jason PinkstonCorner backCleveland (Glenville High School)Pinkston had 40 tackles, four interceptions and 15 pass breakups during the 2008 season. The corner back was named to the All-Ohio team as a senior.
Connor RyanWide receiverWestlake, Ohio (St. Ignatius High School)Ryan was named to the all-conference team twice in his high school career. He had 50 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards as a senior.
Seth White Wide receiverBexley, Ohio (Bexley High School)White graduated from high school last semester and is currently enrolled at Ball State. He finished his career with the program record for single-game rushing yards, single-game touchdowns and career touchdowns.
Eric WilliamsRunning backIndianapolis (Warren Central High School)Williams, a 2008 all-state player, had 1,800 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns in the 2008 season. He ended his high school career with 3,000 rushing yards and 594 receiving yards.
Continue to check bsudailynews.com for more information about the recruits and news from the signing day event starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Alumni Center.
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