Ball State
Cardinals

Ball State Team Report

Updated: February 06, 2012 10:43 EST

Ball State focused this year's recruiting efforts on building better depth across the board in its football program, particularly on the defensive and offensive lines and in the secondary.

While those positions badly needed an influx of bodies, perhaps the most important change in direction came at the wide receiver position.

Coach Pete Lembo needed tall receivers on the outside to run his offensive scheme, and those players simply didn't exist last season. Ball State's top six wideouts in 2011 averaged 5-foot-11.

The transition to get bigger at that position started last season with two receivers who are 6-3 or bigger spending 2011 as redshirts. Add in this year's recruiting class, which includes three players at 6-2 or taller, and the change Lembo seeks is in motion.

"I feel good about this signing group with three big guys and one slot guy ... that we'll be more balanced with the physical distribution of our wide receivers from here on out," Lembo said.

This year's receiver signees include 6-foot-3 Efe Scott-Emaukpor of East Lansing, Mich.; 6-3 KeVonn Mabon of St. Louis; and 6-2 Jordan Williams of North Central in Indianapolis. The fourth wideout in this year's class is 5-9 slot receiver Stewart Turner of Orrville, Ohio.

Last year, 6-4 Trey Gardner and 6-3 Jacolby Owens came into the program.

"When you look at some of the best offenses (I've) had through the years, going back to Lehigh and Elon, having a couple of bigger receivers who you could put into the boundary and get a mismatch on a 5-9 or 5-10 cornerback has been a real key to success for our offense in terms of productivity by those players," Lembo said. "That creates more productivity for other players."

Scott-Emaukpor finished his career ranked 18th all-time in catches (134) by a Michigan prep player.

Lembo's long-range goal at receiver is to have half of the group possess height and the other half be smaller to operate out of the slot.

TOP OF THE CLASS

OL Josh Smith (Avon High, Plainfield, Ind.) -- He might have projected as a Big Ten player but a torn ACL in the summer before his senior season took him off those boards. Despite missing his 2011 season, Ball State loves his athletic ability and work ethic. He's already doing full squats and plans to participate in track in the spring. Cardinals coach Pete Lembo likes to redshirt as many true freshmen as possible, so Smith is a likely candidate to sit out 2012 and be completely healthy by spring practice in 2013.

WR Efe Scott-Emuakpor (East Lansing High, East Lansing, Mich.) -- At 6-foot-3, he fits Ball State's model for putting taller wideouts on the field. He's an athletic receiver who should really grow into his body when he focuses only on football at Ball State. He was No. 18 all time among high school players in Michigan for career catches.

DT Carlutorbantu Zaramo (Brush High, Richmond Heights, Ohio) -- He was something of a late bloomer in high school but made big strides as a junior and senior. He was named one of the top 20 defensive tackles in Ohio after his senior season and comes to Ball State with the size (6-3, 296) to be a force on the inside of the defensive line.

--Ball State needs help at the linebacker position after Aaron Morris was suspended for 2012 because of poor academic progress. Morris was the Cardinals' No. 2 tackler last season. Help should come from Jonathan Newsome, a transfer from Ohio State. By all accounts, Newsome was impressive on the Cardinals' scout team last fall.

--The Cardinals are set to announce that Damian Wroblewski, assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Delaware, will become their new offensive line coach. He will replace John Strollo, who left last month to join the staff of Bill O'Brien at Penn State.

SPRING SNAPSHOT:

Practice begins/ends: March 27/April 21

Practice priorities: The offense that Coach Pete Lembo installed during his first season last year was only a part of the entire package. He'll want the Cardinals to greatly expand their understanding of it this year. On defense, Ball State has to correct a multitude of issues after ranking last in the Mid-American Conference in 2011. Among the biggest goals are to establish depth on the defensive line and replace the loss of their three best safeties.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It was a great feeling to be in the office this week and wrapping up what we did over the last year. We were able to plan ahead and tweak things for the future, rather than try to convince some guys to jump in the boat with you." -- BSU Coach Pete Lembo on having an entire year to recruit a class instead of six weeks like last year right after he was hired.

KEY LOSSES: Perhaps the biggest is SS Sean Baker, who should get at least a free-agent opportunity in the NFL next season. He was a top-shelf field leader who broke Ball State's career record for interceptions (19) and always seemed to be around the ball. On offense, WR Briggs Orsbon was a productive pass-catcher from the slot and led the Cardinals in receptions. He wasn't a game-changer, but Ball State could count on his steady play.

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2012:

WR Jack Tomlinson -- He was slowed at times in his first two seasons by injuries. If he can stay healthy for his final two years, he could be a major factor in the MAC. Tomlinson ranked third for the Cardinals last year with 43 catches and 394 yards. He is expected to move from an outside position to the slot receiver in 2012.

QB Keith Wenning -- He's been good through two years and appears poised to move into one of the top spots among quarterbacks in the MAC. He'll have 22 career starts under his belt going into his junior year in 2012. Wenning made nice progress in TD to INT ration last year (19 to 11) and should only get better.

MLB Travis Freeman -- The Cardinals had the worst defense in the MAC last year, and clearly improvement needs to be made. Freeman should be at catalyst in that area. He was among the nation's top tacklers last season with 134 stops.

TB Jahwan Edwards -- He was one of the big surprises for the Cardinals in 2011 when he was a true freshman. Edwards' punishing style of running allowed him to become the team's top running back by mid-season. He finished the year with 786 yards and 11 touchdowns.

PLAYER NOTES

--OLB Aaron Morris, one of Ball State's most productive players (No. 2 for the Cardinals in tackles last season with 115), was suspended by the university for poor academic performance. The door for his return in 2013 isn't completely closed. "He needs to show the university he deserves to be re-admitted, and then the question is, where is he in terms of progress toward his degree?" Coach Pete Lembo told the Muncie (Ind.) Star Press. "All of that is hypothetical."

--OG Jordan Hansel played as well as anybody on Ball State's offensive line last year before his season ended Oct. 29 when he broke a leg. Hansel had surgery and should be ready for spring practice.

--TB Barrington Scott began 2011 by starting the first five games. Nagging injuries slowed him in October and his season ended Nov. 5 when he broke a leg. He should be ready for spring practice.