After countless hours of practice, hard work and dedication, eight former Ball State football players are attempting to make the jump to the next level.
Quarterback Keith Wenning, tight end Zane Fakes, wide receivers Willie Snead and Jamill Smith, offensive lineman Jordan Hansel, cornerback Jeff Garrett and defensive linemen Jonathan Newsome and Nate Ollie are all hoping to hear their names called during the 2014 NFL Draft.
The draft begins at 8 tonight, with the first round, and will extend over three days.
Rounds two and three start 7 p.m. Friday and rounds four through seven start noon Saturday.
The NFL Draft is hosted at Radio City Music Hall in New York City and can be viewed on the NFL Network, ESPN and ESPN2 on the TV. For live online streaming, check out NFL.com.
See how the former Cardinals stack up below.
Keith Wenning practices on the sidelines Nov. 29, 2013. DN FILE PHOTO JONATHAN MIKSANEK
Keith Wenning (quarterback)
The biggest name of the group, Wenning is the most likely to be drafted this weekend. Wenning broke all major passing records at the university and finished his career as statistically the best quarterback in Ball State history.
2010-2013
Career statistics
| Games played | Completions | Yards | Passing TDs | Total TDs |
| 49 | 1,035 | 11,402 | 92 | 106 |
Career highs
| Completions | Passing yards | Touchdowns |
|
42 vs. Northern Illinois
(Oct. 6, 2012) |
445 at Kent State
(Sept. 29, 2012) vs. Miami (Nov. 29, 2013) |
6 vs. Miami
(Nov. 29, 2013) |
Career Mid-American Conference rankings
| Touchdown passes | Passing yards | Pass completions | Pass attempts |
| 4th | 6th | 4th | 4th |
Awards
| 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 |
| • Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Finalist | • All-MAC Second Team | • Academic All-MAC Honorable Mention | • John Hodge Award Winner (Most Valuable Freshman) |
| • All-MAC Second Team | • Ball State John Magnabosco Most Valuable Offensive Player Award | ||
| • Maxwell Award Watch List | • Ball State Team Captain | ||
| • Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List | • MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 24, Oct. 1) | ||
| • Davey O'Brien Award Watch List | |||
| • MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week (Aug. 29, Oct. 12) | |||
| • MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 13) |
Senior tight end Zane Fakes celebrates a touchdown during the Miami game Nov. 29, 2013. DN FILE PHOTO JESSICA MIKSANEK
Zane Fakes (tight end)
Fakes, a former high school running back, was a four-year starter at tight end for Ball State, providing a safety net for quarterbacks. Although he had a down year statistically in 2013, he still finished his career in the top 10 in receptions in Ball State history.
2009-2013
Career statistics
| Games played | Receptions | Receiving yards | Receiving TDs |
| 53 | 130 | 1,185 | 9 |
Career highs
| Receptions | Receiving yards | Receiving TDs |
|
11 vs. Northern Illinois
(Oct. 6, 2012) |
98 vs. Northern Illinois
(Oct. 6, 2012) |
2 vs. Ohio
(Nov. 14, 2012) at Indiana University (Sept. 15, 2012) |
Awards
| 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
|
• Capital One Academic All-American |
• All-MAC First Team | • Academic All-MAC Honorable Mention |
| • Capital One Academic All-District V | • Academic All-MAC | |
| • Campbell Trophy (NFF Scholar-Athlete) Semifinalist | ||
| • John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List | ||
| • All-MAC First Team | ||
| • Academic All-MAC |
Willie Snead celebrates a win against Central Michigan. DN FILE PHOTO COREY OHLENKAMP
Willie Snead (wide receiver)
Snead decided to forgo his final year of college eligibility and declare for the NFL Draft after a record-setting season at wide receiver. Snead had statistically the best receiving season a Ball State player has ever had.
2011-2013
Career statistics
| Games played | Receptions | Receiving yards | Receiving TDs |
| 37 | 223 | 2,991 | 26 |
Career highs
| Receptions | Receiving yards | Receiving TDs |
|
14 at Kent State
(Sept. 29, 2012) |
216 at Kent State
(Sept. 29, 2012) |
2, seven times |
Awards
| 2013 | 2012 |
| • MAC West Division Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 12, 2013) | • Selected to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List |
| • All-MAC First Team | |
| • Fred Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist | |
| • Selected to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List |
Jamill Smith celebrates after winning the game against Toledo on Sept. 28, 2013. DN FILE PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
Jamill Smith (wide receiver)
At one point in his college career, Smith was the smallest player in Division-I football. For Ball State, he was electric anytime he touched the football. Smith was the slot receiver for multiple seasons in Muncie.
2010-2013
Career statistics
| Games played | Receptions | Receiving yards | Receiving TDs |
| 48 | 117 | 2,034 | 17 |
Career highs
| Receptions | Receiving yards | Receiving TDs |
|
14 vs. Northern Illinois
(Oct. 6, 2012) |
146 vs. Northern Illinois
(Oct. 6, 2012) |
3 vs. Miami
(Nov. 29, 2013) |
Awards
| 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 |
| • All-MAC Third Team (wide receiver, punt returner) | • All-MAC First Team (wide receiver) | • All-MAC Second Team | • Bill Meitzler Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year |
| • All-MAC Second Team (kick returner) | • All-MAC Third Team (punt returner, kick return specialist) | • Ball State Bill Reynolds Special Teams Award co-recipient | |
| • ESPN Helmet Sticker (Oct. 12, 2013) | • Nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy | ||
| • Paul Hornung Award (Most Versatile Player) Preseason Watch List | • Ball State Bill Reynolds Special Teams Award | ||
| • Fred Biletnikoff Watch List | |||
| • Nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy |
Jeff Garrett unbuckles his helmet at the GoDaddy Bowl on Jan. 5, 2014. DN FILE PHOTO JONATHAN MIKSANEK
Jeff Garrett (cornerback)
Garrett enjoyed a career year in 2013. Although he fell one interception shy of his season goal of six, Garrett established himself as one of the better cover corners in the conference.
2010-2013
Career statistics
| Games played | Total tackles | Interceptions | Pass deflections |
| 46 | 180 | 6 | 23 |
Career highs
| Tackles | Pass deflections |
|
13 vs. South Florida
(Sept. 22, 2012) |
2 at Akron
(Oct. 26, 2013) |
Awards
• 2013 All-MAC Second Team
Jonathan Newsome, left, receives praise from Nick Miles on Oct. 6, 2012. DN FILE PHOTO JONATHAN MIKSANEK
Jonathan Newsome (defensive end)
Newsome is the only transfer player with potential to be drafted or signed with a team after the weekend. He came to Ball State from Ohio State in 2011. After sitting out a year, he had the effect fans expected and hoped for in 2012 and 2013, leading the team in sacks both seasons.
2012-2013 (transfer from Ohio State)
Career statistics
| Games played | Total tackles | Tackles for loss | Total sacks | Interceptions |
| 23 | 116 | 24 | 16.5 | 1 |
Career highs
| Interceptions | Tackles | Sacks | Tackles for loss | Fumbles forced |
|
1 at Eastern Michigan
(Sept. 21, 2013) |
8, four times | 2.0, five times |
3.0 at Miami
(Nov. 29, 2013) |
1 at Miami
(Nov. 29, 2013) at Toledo (Sept. 28, 2013) |
Awards
| 2013 | 2012 |
| • All-MAC First Team | • All-MAC Second Team |
| • Rotary Lombardi Award Preseason Watch List | |
| • Ted Hendricks Award Preseason Watch List | |
|
• MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week
(Oct. 5, Nov. 6 and Nov. 29) |
Nate Ollie attempts to tackle a Western Michigan player Oct. 19, 2013. DN FILE PHOTO BREANNA DAUGHERTY
Nate Ollie (defensive tackle)
Although rarely receiving statistical recognition, Ollie is frequently credited with being an integral part of Ball State's defense. He was a major factor in many of Ball State's goal line stops last season, including a pivotal one on fourth down against Kent State.
2010-2013
Career statistics
| Games played | Total tackles | Tackles for loss | Total sacks |
| 46 | 178 | 27 | 13.5 |
Career highs
| Tackles | Sacks | Tackles for loss |
|
10 at Western Michigan
(Oct. 19, 2013) |
2 vs. Indiana University
(Sept. 3, 2011) |
3 vs. Illinois State
(Aug. 29, 2013) |
Awards
| 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
| • All-MAC Second Team | • All-MAC Third Team | • All-MAC Second Team |
|
• MAC West Defensive Player of the Week
(Sept. 7) |
• MAC West Defensive Player of the Week
(Oct. 20) |
Jordan Hansel (offensive lineman)
A mainstay on Ball State's offensive line over the past few seasons, Hansel was the lone returning starting offensive lineman on the 2013 squad. He was part of a group which gave up 16 sacks all season.
2010-2013
Career statistics
| Games played | Total tackles |
| 43 | 5 |
Awards
| 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
| • All-MAC First Team | • All-MAC Third Team | • All-MAC Second Team |
| • Academic All-MAC First Team |
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