Keith Wenning is Ball State's career leader in passing yardage. The Ball State Cardinals football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the Ball State Cardinals football program in various categories,[ 1] including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, and kicking. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. The Cardinals represent Ball State University in the NCAA 's Mid-American Conference.
Although Ball State began competing in intercollegiate football in 1924,[ 1] the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in 1960s. Records from before this year are often incomplete and inconsistent, and they are generally not included in these lists.
These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons:
Since 1960s, seasons have increased from 10 games to 11 and then 12 games in length. The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers. Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002.[ 2] The Cardinals have played in four bowl games since this decision, giving many recent players an extra game to accumulate statistics. These lists are updated through the end of the 2019 season .
Passing
Passing yards Career Rk Player Yards Years 1 Keith Wenning 11,402 2010 2011 2012 2013 2 Nate Davis 9,233 2006 2007 2008 3 Drew Plitt 9,051[ 3] 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 4 Riley Neal 7,393[ 4] 2015 2016 2017 2018 5 Mike Neu 6,271 1990 1991 1992 1993 6 Talmadge Hill 5,902 2000 2001 2002 2003 7 David Riley 4,730 1986 1987 1988 1989 8 Wade Kosakowski 4,550 1985 1986 1987 9 Joey Lynch 4,292 2003 2004 2005 2006 10 Brent Baldwin 4,256 1993 1994 1995 1996
Single season Rk Player Yards Year 1 Keith Wenning 4,148 2013 2 Nate Davis 3,667 2007 3 Nate Davis 3,591 2008 4 Keith Wenning 3,095 2012 5 Drew Plitt 2,918[ 3] 2019 6 Keith Wenning 2,786 2011 7 John Paddock 2,719[ 5] 2022 8 Riley Neal 2,541[ 4] 2016 Drew Plitt 2,541[ 3] 2021 10 Neil Britt 2,377 1983
Passing touchdowns
Rushing
Rushing yards Career Rk Player Yards Years 1 Jahwan Edwards 4,558 2011 2012 2013 2014 2 Marcus Merriweather 4,002 1999 2000 2001 2002 3 MiQuale Lewis 3,748 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 4 Bernie Parmalee 3,483 1987 1988 1989 1990 5 LeAndre Moore 3,080 1995 1996 1997 1998 6 Michael Blair 3,051 1993 1994 1995 1996 7 Caleb Huntley 2,902[ 13] 2017 2018 2019 2020 8 James Gilbert 2,806 2015 2016 2017 2018 9 Corey Croom 2,725 1989 1990 1991 1992 10 Carson Steele 2,447[ 14] 2021 2022
Single season Rk Player Yards Year 1 MiQuale Lewis 1,736 2008 2 Marcus Merriweather 1,618 2002 3 Carson Steele 1,556[ 14] 2022 4 Jahwan Edwards 1,410 2012 5 James Gilbert 1,332[ 15] 2016 6 Caleb Huntley 1,275[ 13] 2019 7 Jahwan Edwards 1,252 2014 8 Marcus Merriweather 1,244 2001 9 Tony Nibbs 1,210 1994 10 Corey Croom 1,157 1992
Rushing touchdowns
Receiving
Receptions
Receiving yards Career Rk Player Yards Years 1 Justin Hall 3,385[ 17] 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2 Dante Ridgeway 3,030 2002 2003 2004 3 Willie Snead 2,991 2011 2012 2013 4 KeVonn Mabon 2,862[ 18] 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 5 Dante Love 2,778 2005 2006 2007 2008 6 Jordan Williams 2,723 2012 2013 2014 2015 7 Darius Hill 2,473 2005 2006 2007 2008 8 Yo'Heinz Tyler 2,265[ 19] 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 9 Deon Chester 2,256 1984 1985 1986 1987 10 Briggs Orsbon 2,218 2008 2009 2010 2011
Receiving touchdowns Single game Rk Player TDs Year Opponent 1 Larry Hamell 4 1963 Valparaiso Rick Morrison 4 1977 Eastern Michigan 3 Vic Comparetto 3 1971 Indiana State Juan Gorman 3 1994 Purdue Dante Ridgeway 3 2004 Western Michigan Jack Tomlinson 3[ 21] 2010 Akron Jamill Smith 3[ 7] 2013 Miami (Ohio)
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[ 22]
Total offense yards Career Rk Player Yards Years 1 Keith Wenning 11,730 2010 2011 2012 2013 2 Nate Davis 9,732 2006 2007 2008 3 Drew Plitt 9,474 [ 3] 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 4 Talmadge Hill 6,484 2000 2001 2002 2003 5 Riley Neal 6,482 [ 4] 2015 2016 2017 6 Mike Neu 5,852 1990 1991 1992 1993 7 David Riley 5,093 1986 1987 1988 1989 8 Brent Baldwin 4,643 1993 1994 1995 1996 9 Jahwan Edwards 4,558 2011 2012 2013 2014 10 Willard Rice 4,403 1968 1969 1970 1971
Single season Rk Player Yards Year 1 Keith Wenning 4,192 2013 2 Nate Davis 3,903 2008 3 Nate Davis 3,902 2007 4 Keith Wenning 3,200 2012 5 Drew Plitt 3,089 [ 3] 2019 6 Riley Neal 3,081 [ 4] 2016 7 Keith Wenning 2,968 2011 8 Riley Neal 2,675 2015 9 Drew Plitt 2,672 [ 3] 2021 10 John Paddock 2,635 [ 5] 2022
Touchdowns responsible for "Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.[ 25]
Defense
Interceptions Single season Rk Player Ints Year 1 Craig Newberg 13 1981 Kelly George 13 1982 3 Bryant Branigan 11 1992 Keith McKenzie 11 1995 5 Wilber McDonald 10 1997
Single game Rk Player Ints Year Opponent 1 Bob Burkhardt 3 1966 Indiana (Pa.) Doc Heath 3 1966 Valparaiso Mike Lecklider 3 1975 Richmond Greg Garnica 3 1989 Miami (Ohio) Sean Baker 3 2008 Akron
Tackles Single season Rk Player Tackles Year 1 Kevin Johnson 204 1993 2 Kevin Johnson 196 1994 3 Greg Garnica 188 1987 4 Greg Garnica 185 1986 5 Mark Parris 178 1992 6 Brad Saar 169 1985 7 Mark Parris 167 1991 8 Greg Garnica 161 1989
Single game Rk Player Tackles Year Opponent 1 Kevin Johnson 29 1993 Ohio Kevin Johnson 29 1993 Akron Kevin Johnson 29 1994 Eastern Michigan 4 Greg Garnica 25 1986 Eastern Michigan Kevin Johnson 25 1994 Miami (Ohio)
Sacks Single game Rk Player Sacks Year Opponent 1 Toby Beegle 5.0 1990 Central Michigan
Kicking
Field goals made Single game Rk Player FGs Year Opponent 1 John Diettrich 5 1985 Indiana State Scott Secor 5 2014 Akron
References ^ a b "2016 Ball State Cardinals Media Guide". BallStateSports.com . Retrieved August 20, 2016 . ^ "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com . AP. August 28, 2002. Retrieved August 20, 2016 . ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Drew Plitt". ESPN.com . ^ a b c d e f g "Riley Neal". ESPN.com . Retrieved November 24, 2017 . ^ a b c "John Paddock". ESPN.com . ^ a b c d e "Kent St. 45, Ball St. 43". ESPN.com . September 29, 2012. ^ a b c d "Ball State cruises past Miami (Ohio) 55-14". ESPN.com . November 29, 2013. ^ a b "Fordham vs. Ball State". ESPN . September 7, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019 . ^ a b c "N. Illinois 35, Ball St. 23". ESPN.com . October 6, 2012. ^ a b "Northern Illinois vs. Ball State Box Score". ESPN.com . October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022 . ^ "Fordham vs. Ball State Box Score". ESPN.com . September 7, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019 . ^ "Wenning throws 5 TDs, Ball State tops Akron 42-24". ESPN.com . October 26, 2013. ^ a b c d "Caleb Huntley". ESPN.com . ^ a b c "Carson Steele". ESPN.com . ^ a b "James Gilbert". ESPN.com . Retrieved November 24, 2016 . ^ "Gilbert's 264 yards keys Ball State's 31-21 win over Buffalo". ESPN.com . ^ a b c d "Justin Hall". ESPN.com . ^ a b c d "KeVonn Mabon". ESPN.com . Retrieved November 24, 2016 . ^ a b c "Yo'Heinz Tyler". ESPN.com . ^ "Jayshon Jackson". ESPN.com . ^ "Ball St. 37, Akron 30, OT". ESPN.com . November 6, 2010. [dead link ] ^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF) . NCAA. p. 9. Retrieved December 4, 2021 . ^ "Eastern Michigan rallies from 21 points down to beat Ball St". ESPN.com . November 8, 2016. ^ "Northern Illinois beats Ball State 59-41". ESPN.com . October 10, 2015. ^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF) . NCAA. p. 12. Retrieved December 4, 2021 . ^ "Sidney Houston Jr". ESPN.com . ^ "Morgan Hagee". ESPN.com . Retrieved November 24, 2017 . ^ "Ben VonGunten". ESPN.com . Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons