Ball State football fans will have a chance to get their first look at the Cardinals during Saturday's Spring Showcase, and there is no shortage of new faces for fans to familiarize themselves with.
In addition to a new head coach and an almost entirely new staff, Ball State welcomed 25 new players in the offseason — 15 transfers and 10 freshmen. Many of the transfers are expected to be featured on the Cardinals' two-deep next fall.
Here are five newcomers to watch at Ball State's Spring Showcase who could play big roles for the Cardinals this season:
Qua Ashley, RB, No. 9
Qua Ashley transferred to Ball State after three seasons at Kennesaw State. The redshirt junior was named first-team All-Conference USA as a kick returner last season and was an honorable mention all-CUSA pick at running back.
Ashley excels in space with quick acceleration and great top-end speed. He is a versatile weapon out of the backfield who led the Owls in receptions last season with 28. Though it is a crowded backfield with fellow speedster Elijah Jackson (Purdue transfer) and the returning thumper T.J. Horton, Ashley seems like the best bet to fill the role of primary back.
122 carries, 409 Rushing yards
— Qua 💆🏾♂️ (@QuaAshley3) December 1, 2024
28 receptions , 255 receiving yards
1,193 all purpose yards
4 TDS
2 years of eligibility remaining pic.twitter.com/7rfeEoCQ78
Eric Weatherly, WR, No. 3
Eric Weatherly joined Ball State after earning first-team All-Patriot League honors at Bucknell. Weatherly began his college career at Duke in 2022 before transferring to Bucknell, where he caught 117 passes for 1,468 yards and 15 touchdowns over the past two seasons. He started all 12 games last year and led the Bison with 75 catches for 865 yards and eight touchdowns.
Weatherly stands out on the field because of his size. At just 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, Weatherly is one of the smallest players on the roster, but he is a tough cover with great speed, quick feet and fluid route running. He seems to be developing an early rapport with quarterback Kiael Kelly, and with the departures of Cam Pickett, Malcolm Gillie and Justin Bowick from the wide receivers room, Weatherly is primed to step in and earn targets.
2024 Highlights- Mid Year Grad Transfer WR pic.twitter.com/MTEpKcYdFg
— Eric J Weatherly (@_ejw21) December 10, 2024
Nathan Voorhis, DE, No. 44
Nathan Voorhis joined Ball State for his final season of collegiate eligibility. He started his career at UConn but played sparingly in two seasons before ...
