Recruiting Roundup: The Ball State Defense

With around one week to go until National Signing Day, OTP continues it's coverage of recruiting. We'll be addressing both Ball State and Kentucky's commitments as a build up to National Signing Day on both sides of the football. RV will be along with his recruiting recap of his top classes and players to watch in the Class of 09. Today's edition is the Ball State defense.

Recruiting Roundup
Ball State Defense

As mentioned in this piece, the science of recruiting is by nature, as inexact as it could possibly get. Internet sites, fanbases, ESPN, etc. are basing revenue, interest, and credibility on the choices of 17 and 18 year olds across the country and fans all over the college football landscape are eating it up with a passion and voracity unmatched. Keep in mind, these kids are not even high school graduates, so flip flops and/or mind changes are to be expected. It's like a kid on Christmas morning, I would imagine, having the latest and shiniest toy take the attention away from what could possibly be the best thing under the tree. Here comes Michigan with their shiny new legos and Playstation 3s and suddenly, your Ball State Mr. Potato Head isn't quite so sexy.

Recruiting to a school like Ball State isn't an easy task. It is the red headed step child of a conference already seen as the red headed step child of the college football universe. The facilities are substandard, the coaches are underpaid, the support of the surrounding town and community is fickle at best, and it is the job of those underpaid coaches to tell a recruit that this the place for them. Forget about all those fancy gyms and indoor training facilities, young man, because Muncie, Indiana is where it's at. Pay no attention to the national columnist flapping his jowls about how shoddily the place is run... suit up on Saturdays, my boy!

Regardless of the backstories or the incessant screaming at no one in particular from one national columnist, Stan Parrish and company have quietly built a class that is impressive certainly for BSU, and is in the running for best class in the MAC. The defense is solid, and there is still room to grow. This list is by no means final, but does appear solidly in place. Defections on the defensive side of the football would surprise me.

Here's who's verbaled to the Cardinals to date on the defensive side:

Name: Alex Andrus
Position: DE
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 244
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: 142
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Ethan Buckles
Position: DE
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 230
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: Not Ranked
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Donovan Jarrett
Position: DT
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 303
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: Not Ranked
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: Not Rated

Name: Travis Freeman
Position: LB
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 205
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: 53 (S)
Scout Rating: *
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Tony Martin
Position: LB
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 205
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: 154
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Justin Cruz
Position: LB
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 205
Scout Position Rank: 108
ESPN Position Rank: 145
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: **

Name: Theon Dixon
Position: LB/S
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 195
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: Not Ranked
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: Not Rated

Name: Armand Dehaney
Position: CB
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 188
Scout Position Rank: Not Ranked
ESPN Position Rank: 95
Scout Rating: **
Rivals Rating: **

Are the Cardinals done on defense? Probably not. I would venture a guess that the defensive backfield gets solidified with a couple more additions, and the addition of one or more linebackers or linemen wouldn't surprise me. The class appears solid, with few, if any, making waves that would indicate a potential shift.

In general this is a solid class in both quantity and quality, though as many will point out, the true talent lies mostly on the offensive side of the football in this recruiting class. As the new staff has a season to evaluate talent the class of 2010 looks to be a defensive minded class for the system now in place. In truth, this particular defensive class needed to be serviceable. And they far surpassed that mark.

Pens meet paper for National Signing Day on February 4th.