Tag: Ball State

Report: Wisconsin lands visit with one of transfer portal’s top tight ends

Report: Wisconsin lands visit with one of transfer portal’s top tight ends

Wisconsin has a visit scheduled with top transfer portal tight end Tanner Koziol, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

The Badgers will host Koziol on Friday, following his earlier visit to Houston.

Related: Tracking Wisconsin football’s transfer portal offers, interests and commitments

247Sports ranks the Ball State transfer as the No. 41 overall player in the portal and the No. 3 tight end. The multi-year starter is off an exceptional 2024 season that included 94 catches, a team-high 839 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Those numbers bolster his impressive career tallies of 163 catches, 1,507 yards and 18 scores.

The rising is in the portal with one year of eligibility remaining.

A potential commitment would give Wisconsin its best receiving threat at the position since Jake Ferguson left for the NFL.

The 6’7″ tight end’s recruitment is sure to pick up over the next week. He was one of the top tight ends in college football in 2024, regardless of level. Difference-makers at the position are hard to find, especially transferring from a mid-level FBS program.

Wisconsin is in the market for an established pass-catching tight end as new coordinator Jeff Grimes works to recraft the unit. The Badgers got only 23 combined catches, 156 yards and a touchdown from starters Tucker Ashcraft and Riley Nowakowski in 2024. The lack of receiving threat at the position was part of the offense’s broader struggles over the second half of the season.

Bookmark our offer and visit tracker for more information on Wisconsin’s top portal targets at this stage of the process.

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Inaugural Put Me In Coach Invitational brings a vibe and an opportunity to the back of college lineups

Sometimes all it takes is an opportunity. The aptly named Put Me In Coach Invitational is exactly that – with a soundtrack to match.

Sometimes all it takes is an opportunity. The aptly named Put Me In Coach Invitational is exactly that – with a soundtrack to match.

The tournament name just makes sense, said Ball State head coach Mike Fleck, when you look at what a new early-fall event for individuals is offering. Individual events – or the expansion of full-field events to allow for extra individuals on the tee sheet – is a trend right now in college golf.

“It’s an individual event for guys that are trying to find their way into the lineup that are maybe in a different position than maybe your top players and it’s just a cool, catchy, ‘Hey, Coach, pay attention to me and put me in. If I play well, put me in coach.’”

In the tournament’s first iteration on Sept. 15-16 at Delaware Country Club in Muncie, Indiana, the catch-phrase made popular in the 1980s John Fogerty song “Centerfield” was on a loop pre-tournament, mixed into the playlist as players warmed up on the practice facilities. Sure there was a vibe, but there was also business to do.

Scores: Put Me In Coach Invitational

Michael Weber of Miami University (Ohio) and Virgilio Paz of Missouri tied for first in the 54-hole, both finishing at 1 under before Paz won in a playoff. It’s the first college title for Paz, a junior who transferred from New Mexico last year.

While Paz and three other Missouri teammates were competing in Muncie, the Tigers also took a team to the Canadian Collegiate in Ontario.

https://twitter.com/GolfweekRingler/status/1835747126694781214

“Before the tournament started we had a team meeting making sure everyone acknowledged that we are representing University of Missouri and the SEC just as much as the other guys are,” assistant coach Paola Cortes-Ortiz said. “The course required a lot of patience, smart decisions and commitment and that’s exactly what the guys competed with.”

Delaware Country Club, an old-style club, didn’t give up much with only 12 players logging a round under par. Fleck called it an easy golf course for spectators to get around and one that’s always in pristine condition.

Next year, as the Put Me In Coach Invitational returns to Delaware CC, the tournament will also expand to include a women’s division. That will come on the heels of Delaware Country Club hosting both the Indiana Open and Indiana Women’s Open in 2025.

“I think it’s hugely important,” Fleck said of the Put Me In Coach concept. “These kids are getting on campuses and we’re getting qualifying rounds going. There’s just a little bit different vibe obviously when you’re playing in a tournament environment in a setting versus when you’re qualifying though an intersquad match.”

Golf is unique among college sports in its lack of a bench. The whole roster doesn’t travel and that can leave as many as three to five players at home missing out on the experience of tournament golf.

Among the 30-player field, 21 players were true freshmen. Fleck, who started four players and two of them freshmen, noted the tournament was a particularly good way for those players to get their feet wet in college golf.

The Put Me In Coach Invitational expands on Golfweek’s long-running college tournament series which spans Divisions I through III and includes both fall and spring events.

“I’m really excited about this event – it adds to our lineup of college events and trying to provide more opportunities for college golf,” said tournament director Lance Ringler of Golfweek.

LOOK: Exciting rookie posts top pictures from Chiefs training camp

Rookie RB Carson Steele shared a series of pictures from #Chiefs training camp on his Twitter account during the team’s day off.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ stable of young running backs is set to be one of the team’s best assets in 2024 as the defending champions seek to win a third-consecutive Super Bowl title.

Among the group’s most intriguing players is rookie Carson Steele, who was a superstar at the college level during stints at Ball State and UCLA before signing with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in the offseason.

He has already impressed coaches during Kansas City’s practices in St. Joseph and, on the team’s day off, he shared a series of pictures from his first taste of life at Chiefs training camp:

Though Steele faces an uphill battle to make Kansas City’s 53-man roster in the coming season, his upside as a versatile back makes him an excellent candidate to make the Chiefs’ practice squad as a developmental prospect.

Steele will be a key player to watch during Kansas City’s preseason tilt against the Jacksonville Jaguars next week.

Michigan State women’s basketball lands commitment from Ball State transfer Nyla Hampton

Michigan State women’s basketball lands commitment from Ball State transfer Nyla Hampton

Robyn Fralick has been busy adding to her Michigan State women’s basketball team. The Spartans have now added four transfers with the commitment of Ball State transfer Nyla Hampton on Friday and the commitment of Jaddan Simmons on Saturday.

Nyla Hampton, who was part of Robyn Fralick’s team at Bowling Green before she transferred to Ball State, averaged 8.7 points per game to go along with 4.8 assists and 3.3 steal for the Cardinals.

Combine that with Jaddan Simmons, Grace Vanslooten and Emma Shumate and the Spartans are looking dangerous next year.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

Former Notre Dame defender set to coach defense, safeties at Boise State

Former Irish defender moving up the ranks!

Former Notre Dame defensive lineman Tyler Stockton has been making a name for himself in coaching since his playing days ended.

Stockton played on Notre Dame’s defensive line from 2009-2013.  From there he joined the UConn coaching staff for two seasons as a graduate assistant before being hired and spending three years at Western Illinois.

Stockton has been coaching at Ball State since 2019.  He took over calling the Cardinals defense in 2020 and helped them to their first MAC championship in 14 years that season.

Stockton again led stellar defensive units at Ball State the last three seasons and had been promoted to assistant head coach.  Stockton has coached his last down in Muncie however and is on his way to Boise State.

At Boise State he’s set to be the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach starting next season.

Congrats on the success so far and all the best wishes for more of it on the blue turf!

High school golfer Happy Gilmore (no, really) officially signs with Ball State

Safe to say, Chubbs is proud. 

Bloomington South senior Happy Gilmore was destined to have success on a golf course.

Yes, that’s his real name. And on Wednesday, he signed his National Letter of Intent to play Division I college golf at Ball State.

His real first name is Landon, but he started going by “Happy” as a nickname when he was about 6 and started playing in golf tournaments.

As a junior, Gilmore finished T-7 at the Indiana high school boys golf state tournament in June, shooting even par over 36 holes at Prairie View Golf Club. He won his regional the week before at Country Oaks in Montgomery.

Rumors are even Shooter McGavin is worried about when Happy gets to the Tour.

Safe to say, Chubbs is proud.

Notre Dame Thanksgiving weekend game at Ball State officially Nov. 24

Adjust your calendar.

If you’re planning your Thanksgiving weekend around Notre Dame women’s basketball, you’ll want to read this. The program’s official schedule initially read that the road game against Ball State would be played Nov. 25. That schedule now has been updated to say the game is Nov. 24. Yes, that means the game is being played on Black Friday.

This game will be the back end of a home-and-home. This is only the second time the Irish are headed to Muncie. They lost, 79-61, in their only other game there in 1981. The Irish and Cardinals ended up playing each other three times in less than a year and then didn’t face off again until last season. when the Irish earned a 95-60 victory at Purcell Pavilion.

The Irish’s season opener has been highly anticipated in that it will be against South Carolina on Nov. 6 in Paris. Talk about starting the season off with a fellow women’s basketball blue blood. You won’t want to miss that.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Five takeaways from Georgia’s win over Ball State

What are five takeaways from Georgia football’s 45-3 win over Ball State?

The Georgia Bulldogs are 2-0 after defeating the Ball State Cardinals at home on Sept. 9. The Bulldogs overcame a slow start to win 45-3. Georgia used 31 second-quarter points to pull away from the Cardinals.

Georgia, which is the No. 1 team in the country, will face a real test next week when the Bulldogs host South Carolina. Georgia’s offense still needs to improve if the Bulldogs want to reach the College Football Playoff. However, the Dawgs have a strong defense and special teams unit that Georgia can lean on as it figures out things on offense.

What are five takeaways from Georgia’s win over Ball State?

Photos: Georgia dominates Ball State in home win

What were the top photos from UGA football’s victory over Ball State?

The Georgia Bulldogs have won 20 consecutive home games after defeating the Ball State Cardinals 45-3 on Sept. 9. Georgia is now 2-0.

The Bulldogs and Cardinals had a scoreless first quarter, but Georgia scored 31 points in the second quarter to build a huge lead on Ball State. Georgia used three interceptions and a Mekhi Mews punt return for a touchdown to outscore Ball State 31-0 in the second quarter.

Wide receiver Dillon Bell had a shifty rushing touchdown. Perhaps we will see Bell in the backfield more this season. Georgia running back Cash Jones scored on a nice reception in the second half.

What were the top photos from Georgia football’s victory over Ball State?