From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

[redsox907]

Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

2029 Syracuse Orange Season Statistics

Syracuse Orange Stats - 2029
Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	YDS/G	LONG	TD	INT	RAT
Dennis Seri	190/281 (67%)	2,592	9.2	162.0	80	27	18	163.9
Jumaane Cox	46/59 (77%)	704	11.9	50.3	66	6	1	208.3
Trevante Ismail	9/16 (56%)	97	6.1	97.0	19	2	1	135.9
Rushing	ATT	YDS	AVG	LONG	20+	TD	YDS/G	FUM
JC Hoag	329	2,331	7.1	49	13	26	145.7	2
Spencer Vernon	133	724	5.4	41	3	7	45.3	0
Dennis Seri	121	598	4.9	26	13	11	37.4	2
Trenton Gilliam	22	198	9.0	34	2	2	12.4	0
Jumaane Cox	28	160	5.7	23	3	4	11.4	1
Trevante Ismail	2	1	0.5	7	0	0	1.0	0
Receiving	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG	DROPS	YDS/G	YAC
Spencer Vernon	107	1,152	10.8	13	55	3	72.0	1,202
Felix Redwine	56	1,125	20.1	11	80	2	70.3	541
Mateo Chickillo	25	451	18.0	4	64	5	28.2	156
Elton Romberg	20	248	12.4	2	44	7	14.4	56
Carlos Simms	11	162	14.7	3	71	6	10.1	43
Trenton Gilliam	11	108	9.8	0	20	1	6.8	109
James Alba	6	62	10.3	1	16	2	3.9	9
Jeffrey Franz	5	58	11.6	2	25	2	3.6	18
Danny Pace	2	33	16.5	0	18	1	2.1	24
Tevin Westerman	1	22	22.0	0	22	0	11.0	0
JC Hoag	3	16	5.3	0	20	0	1.0	0
Blocking					PCAKE		SACK
Garrison Ricks					-		3
Dakota Soto					-		9
Dennis Strong					-		4
Tyler Bland					-		3
Ezekiel Roos					-		2
	Tackles			Sacks		Interceptions
Defense	SOLO	AST	TOT	SACK	TLOSS	PD	INT	TD
MLB Max Shaver	31	58	89	4	21	6	1	0
FS Tucker Colman	39	46	85	0	6	5	4	0
SS Leo Tauscher	42	40	82	5.5	14	7	6	0
MLB Ernie McHugh	32	47	79	2	8	3	2	0
CB Deon Stokley	33	30	5=63	0	1	3	7	0
CB Deron Wusu	32	30	62	0	1	5	6	0
LB Sean Schlauderaff	25	34	59	17	29	1	2	0
CB Dalvin Holley	20	36	56	2	5	5	4	0
DE Jason Veasy	30	25	55	25.5	40	0	0	0
LB Juan Bishop	19	29	48	3	12	1	0	0
DT Alex Clinton	12	25	37	11.5	19	1	0	0
CB Kevin Schweitzer	15	20	35	0	2	3	0	0
SS Tyree Kight	10	23	33	0	4	2	1	0
FS Clyde Weaver	9	19	28	0	0	0	0	0
DE Robert Foster	6	14	20	6	12	1	0	0
DT Joey Akers	9	7	16	5	8	0	0	0
LB Marquise Johns	5	8	13	0	0	0	0	0
SS Layne Smith	2	2	4	0	0	0	0	0
LB Clay Mooney	2	1	3	0	0	0	0	0
MLB Cam McQuaide	2	1	3	0	0	0	0	0
DE Bryce Salaam	1	1	2	1	1	0	0	0
DE Nicholas Stephen	2	0	2	1	1	0	0	0
	Kickoffs					Punts
Returning	ATT	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD	RET	AVG	TD
Carlos Simms	11	163	14.8	19	0	57	5.7	0
Elton Romberg	17	249	14.6	19	0
	Field Goals				Extra Points
Kicking	FGM	FGA	PCT	LONG	XPM	XPA	PCT	PTS
Desmond Brewer	12	16	75	51	88	88	100	124
Punting	PUNTS	YDS	LONG	AVG	NET	BP	IN20	TB
Michael Chickillo	24	799	42	33.3	714	0	6	0

[redsox907]

Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

2029 Ball State Cardinals Season Review

The Ball State Cardinals completed their third undefeated regular season in the last four years, with only 2028’s 11-2 record standing as an outlier. However, their postseason struggles continued as they were eliminated in the first round of the College Football Playoff, falling 54-42 to Texas in the Peach Bowl.

Junior quarterback Titus Awe showed significant improvement in his ball security this season, reducing his interceptions from 38 last year to 28. However, his ability to perform under pressure remains a concern after Texas sacked him 10 times, leading to six costly interceptions in the playoff loss.

Despite another early exit, Ball State proved its ability to compete with the nation’s best during the regular season. The Cardinals secured key road wins against #15 Kansas State and #3 Michigan—coached by former Ball State head coach Kliff Kingsbury. A midseason victory over fellow undefeated and #9-ranked Central Michigan further solidified their standing as a top-tier program.

Their success was further validated by the College Restructuring Committee’s (CRC) announcement that Ball State will join the Big 12 in the 2030 season, marking a significant step forward for the program.

Once considered a low-prestige MAC team when Nash Savage took over in 2025, the Cardinals have continued to thrive even after his departure. However, despite another stellar 13-1 season and a CFP appearance, Ball State will once again be searching for a new head coach. Mike Bloomgren, who led the team for just one year, leveraged his success into the head coaching position at Florida amidst a chaotic coaching carousel.

"When jobs like LSU, Florida, and Penn State open up, you know there’s going to be a seismic shift in the coaching landscape," said Ball State athletic director Jeff Mitchell regarding Bloomgren’s departure.

"While we would have loved for Mike to stay longer, you can’t fault someone for pursuing what they believe is the best opportunity for themselves and their family—just as I felt when Kliff left for Michigan last year. I think it speaks volumes about Ball State’s continued success that, despite constant coaching turnover over the past three years, we’ve maintained our competitiveness on the field and in recruiting. That competitiveness has allowed us to attract top candidates, and I’m thrilled to announce Mark Stoops as the next head coach of the Cardinals as we transition into the Big 12."

Stoops arrives after a disappointing two-year tenure at Penn State, where the Nittany Lions hovered around .500 without a Big Ten title or College Football Playoff appearance. However, his previous success at Stanford—including an undefeated 2027 campaign that ended in a national championship loss to Ball State—proves he is capable of leading a top program.

As the Cardinals enter the 2029 offseason, questions remain—particularly on defense, where seven starters are graduating. With their inaugural Big 12 season looming, Ball State hopes this is the year they finally break through in the postseason, even without Nash Savage at the helm.

Ball State Cardinals Stats - 2029
Passing	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	YDS/G	LONG	TD	INT	RAT
Titus Awe	260/398 (65%)	4,470	11.2	319.3	90	49	28	186.2
PJ Barmore	16/30 (53%)	165	5.5	11.8	29	1	3	90.5
Rushing	ATT	YDS	AVG	LONG	20+	TD	YDS/G	FUM
Cortez Duval	206	1,393	6.8	91	12	22	99.5	2
Titus Awe	168	1,174	7.0	65	17	14	83.9	7
Legend Ogbogu	98	720	7.3	68	7	4	51.4	0
PJ Barmore	4	17	4.3	23	1	0	1.2	0
Corey Higdon	7	9	1.3	2	0	0	1.5	0
Receiving	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG	DROPS	YDS/G	YAC
Dee Katula	49	962	19.6	7	71	2	68.7	312
Jacob LaCosse	47	847	18.0	11	66	5	60.5	331
Marvin Mooney	28	844	30.1	6	90	9	60.3	301
Spencer Lewis	61	783	12.8	9	80	7	55.9	399
Daryl Pope	22	562	25.5	7	80	2	40.1	214
Cortez Duval	34	290	8.8	6	35	4	21.3	144
Legend Ogbogu	24	227	9.5	3	25	2	16.2	219
Barry Poutasi	6	75	12.5	1	29	0	5.4	25
Branden Malik	2	17	8.5	0	9	0	1.7	10
Zac Byham	1	10	10.0	0	10	0	0.7	5
Nathan Blades	1	4	4.0	0	4	0	0.3	2
Corey Higdon	1	6	6.0	0	6	0	1.0	5
Blocking					PCAKE		SACK
Terrence Madison					-		11
Tyler Carraway					-		12
Alonzo Atogwe					-		4
Jaden Rasmussen					-		6
Shakir Cribbs					-		6
	Tackles			Sacks		Interceptions
Defense	SOLO	AST	TOT	SACK	TLOSS	PD	INT	TD
MLB JaMichael Tabor	54	15	69	3	2	7	3	0
CB JP Kitchings	41	12	53	0	2	3	1	0
MLB Matthew Scroggins	44	9	53	0.5	1	4	1	0
DE Barry Hockenson	37	10	47	10.5	5	2	0	0
DE Stephen Hippenhammer	33	13	46	11.5	7	0	0	0
CB Patrick Weeks	37	7	44	0	0	6	2	0
SS Devin Teague	26	11	37	0	1	13	2	0
CB Warren Hart	24	10	34	0.5	0	5	0	0
SS Jeremy Maslowski	19	11	30	1	1	3	2	0
FS Steven Tyree	24	4	28	0	0	3	2	0
CB Timothy Hay	17	7	24	0.5	0	3	1	0
LB Tucker Foster	21	2	23	4	1	3	0	0
LB Bart Blackstock	14	7	21	0	2	1	0	0
DT Timote Dove	8	10	18	0.5	2	0	0	0
DE Toby Meinerz	14	3	17	2.5	1	0	0	0
SS John Stock	8	5	13	0.5	0	1	0	0
DT Devin Lund	7	3	10	2	0	0	0	0
LB Amari Jimoh	6	2	8	0	0	0	0	0
FS Pat Ruggins	4	2	6	0	0	0	0	0
DT Imani Miles	4	1	5	1	1	0	0	0
LB Glenn McCord	2	3	5	0	0	0	0	0
DE George Bushman	2	3	5	2.5	0	1	0	0
MLB Jelani Phillips	3	1	4	1.5	2	0	0	0
DE Jamie Duarte	2	0	2	1	0	0	0	0
	Kickoffs					Punts
Returning	ATT	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD	RET	AVG	TD
Frank Snyder	14	372	26.6	34	0	4	13.0	0
Cortez Duval	7	165	23.6	32	0	42	11.3	0
	Field Goals				Extra Points
Kicking	FGM	FGA	PCT	LONG	XPM	XPA	PCT	PTS
Darrelle Stephen	6	8	75	44	91	93	97	105
Punting	PUNTS	YDS	LONG	AVG	NET	BP	IN20	TB
Nick Pino	16	587	36.7	36.7	534	0	4	0

[redsox907]

Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

Coaching Carousel 2029

Akron – Trevor Stanford LEFT // Scot Loeffler (Louisville 27-35) HIRED
Arizona – Sean Lewis FIRED // Brian Lindgreen (Louisiana) HIRED
Arkansas – Thomas Hammock LEFT // Jeff Choate HIRED
Army – Jeff Monken FIRED // Ryan Walters (Georgia Southern) HIRED
Auburn – Jeff Traylor FIRED // Billy Napier (Florida) HIRED
Ball State – Mike Bloomgreen LEFT (Florida) // Mark Stoops (Penn State) HIRED
Ball State OC - Willie Shor LEFT // Gerad Parker HIRED
Central Michigan – Adonis Chunn (CPU) LEFT // Michael Scherer (Rutgers) HIRED
Florida Atlantic – Tommy Wenning (CPU) LEFT // Curt Cignetti (Indiana) HIRED
Florida – Billy Napier FIRED // Mike Bloomgreen (Ball State) HIRED
Fresno State - Earnest Malveaux FIRED // Kyle Whittingham (Utah) HIRED
Georgia Southern – Ryan Walters LEFT // Hayden Oordt (Marshall) HIRED
Georgia – Kirby Smart LEFT // Thomas Hammock (Arkansas) HIRED
Indiana – Curt Cignetti FIRED // Travis Kessman (Wake Forest) HIRED
Iowa – Kirk Ferentz RETIRED // Kane Wommack (Alabama DC) HIRED
Jax State – J Miles LEFT // Tim Skipper (Rice) HIRED
Kent State – Lyle Hemphill FIRED // Bret Bielema (Wisconsin) HIRED
LSU – Brian Kelly RETIRED // Kirby Smart (Georgia) HIRED
Liberty – Everett Weathersby (CPU) LEFT // Haddad(CPU) HIRED
Louisiana – Brian Lindgreen FIRED // Sam Pittman (Navy) HIRED
Louisville – Scot Loeffler FIRED // Cortez Hankton (Minnesota) HIRED
Marshall – Hayden Oordt FIRED // J Miles (CPU – Jax State) HIRED
Minnesota – Cortez Hankton LEFT // Joe Harasymiak (Rutgers DC) HIRED
Northern Illinois – Justin Wilcox LEFT // Lyle Hemphill (Kent State) HIRED
Navy – Sam Pittman LEFT // Jeff Monken (Army) HIRED
Northwestern – Jamerson Carmona LEFT // Tommy Wenning (FAU) HIRED
Oklahoma – Dave Doeren FIRED // Brett Brennan (Texas) HIRED
Oregon State – Gerad Parker FIRED // Jason Candle HIRED
Penn State – Mark Stoops FIRED // Mike Norvell (Toledo) HIRED
Rice – Tim Skipper FIRED // John David Baker (ECU OC) HIRED
Rutgers - Michael Scherer LEFT // Heredia (CPU) HIRED
San Diego State – Hugh Freeze FIRED // Sean Lewis (Arizona) HIRED
South Carolina – Pat Nadruzzi RETIRED // Adonis Chunn (Central Michigan) HIRED
Texas – Brett Brennan LEFT // Willie Shor (Ball State OC) HIRED
Texas Tech – Mario Cristobal FIRED // WILDER CPU HIRED
Toledo – Mike Norvell LEFT // Robb Akey (Central Michigan OC) HIRED
UAB – Trent Dilfer LEFT // Jeff Traylor (Auburn) HIRED
UL Monroe – Bronco Mendenhall FIRED // Earnest Malveaux (Fresno State) HIRED
UTSA – Ben DeVito LEFT // Brock (CPU) HIRED
Utah – Kyle Whittingham FIRED // Trent Dilfer (UAB) HIRED
Wake Forest – Travis Kessman LEFT // Earnest Weathersby (Liberty) HIRED
Wisconsin – Bret Bielema FIRED // Dave Doeren (Oklahoma) HIRED

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Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

2029 NFL Draft

Ball State
SR(RS) DE Barry Hockenson (88) - 6th Round

Syracuse
JR(RS) HB Spencer Vernon (91) - 2nd Round
SR TE Mateo Chickillo (90) - 2nd Round
SR(RS) LB Sean Schlauderaff (90) - 3rd Round
SR FS Tucker Colman (88) - 3rd Round
SR(RS) SS Leo Tauscher (87) - 6th Round
SR DT Alex Clinton (87) - 7th Round

[Deuce2223]

Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

Congrats on the Chip.. I can see Coach Savage staying in New York and building something special. At least for the next 4 to 5 years. Looks like someone is going to have to step up and fill Vernon's shoes. I am excited to see what your recruiting class ends up like. Will the 5* QB come in and earn the job for did Cox's performance in the Natty secure him QB1 for his Senior season and if so what does that mean for Seri.. Does he hit the portal..

[redsox907]

Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

Congrats on the Chip.. I can see Coach Savage staying in New York and building something special. At least for the next 4 to 5 years. Looks like someone is going to have to step up and fill Vernon's shoes. I am excited to see what your recruiting class ends up like. Will the 5* QB come in and earn the job for did Cox's performance in the Natty secure him QB1 for his Senior season and if so what does that mean for Seri.. Does he hit the portal..

With the shaky play from Seri I wasn't sure if it would be our year, but switching to Cox paid dividends in the Natty. Cox was a redshirt senior though, so he rode into the sunset a Syracuse legend.

I was surprised Vernon declared, but I didn't realize that as the season progress he had cracked 90OVR. With the two freshman WRs I have coming in I think one of them can fill the role, I'm guessing Dalton Wear from MA. He's got gold shifty already and 97 speed, reminds me of Gregory Wrighster from the end of my USC days, so we'll see if that translates onto the field. I didn't evne realize how many catches vernon was racking up, but I had him listed as the slot receiver and 3RDHB so it made sense, he was all over the field.

I had plans of sending Seri into the portal, but I wasn't able to find any transfer QBs to take his spot so he's going to stay and battle it out with the true freshman. Stats look great for him 94 THP, 89/83/81 accuracy, 85 SPD. Gold Field General and Elite Dev trait.

I was offered the Oklahoma job, but decided to stay with Syracuse. There are three, maybe four teams that I am hoping to take over and will probably only leave Cuse if one of those open up AND I get offered them. Texas is one of them, but not only did I not get offered but I didn't want to take them over when they were already the 2 seed in the playoffs. I'd rather them having fallen on hard times and coming in to save the day.

I was hoping to keep Bloomgreen in Ball State for another year, but again he got offered a great gig that would realistically be tough to pass up. I'm hoping the move to the Big 12 will give us enough prestige for those offers not to be automatic moves for a new coach, but until they establish themselves further and keep building the prestige they'll end up being a turn and burn program for coaches unfortunately.

[redsox907]

Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

National Champion Syracuse Finishes With 2nd Ranked Class

Syracuse, NY. - Fresh off their first National Championship since 1959, Syracuse and head coach Nash Savage wasted no time reloading their roster to fill key departures, most notably those of junior running back Spencer Vernon and all-time sack leader Sean Schlauderaff, who are both heading to the NFL.

In total, the Orange saw 21 seniors graduate but responded with an aggressive recruiting push, securing 23 new additions, including 22 signees and transfer running back Tyrell Sands. Sands, a late addition from the portal, was specifically targeted to provide depth following Vernon’s unexpected decision to declare early for the draft, ensuring that returning back JC Hoag won’t shoulder the entire workload next season.

One of the most anticipated arrivals is four-star wide receiver Dalton Wear, a dynamic playmaker expected to contribute immediately on offense and special teams. “He’s got the kind of speed and elusiveness that changes games,” said Savage, igniting early hype around the incoming freshman.

However, the true headline of the class is five-star quarterback Immanuel Hendrix, whose decision to reclassify into the 2029 class proved to be a game-changer for the Orange.

“I originally planned to stay in the 2030 class,” Hendrix revealed during his signing announcement. “But when I looked at teams with potential starting jobs opening up in 2030, I realized reclassifying gave me a real shot at competing earlier.”

Syracuse capitalized on the opportunity. “We really got lucky with Immanuel,” admitted Savage. “At first, we weren’t targeting a quarterback as a priority, but after locking in five-star recruits Maurice Lokombo and Nolan Drake, we shifted our focus. That’s when we realized Hendrix had reclassified, and I reached out immediately.

“I was shocked—Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, and even Boise State had him on their boards, but no one had offered him a scholarship yet. I think being the first program to show real interest got the wheels turning.”

With Dennis Seri struggling late in the season and ultimately losing his job to Jumaane Cox, who led Syracuse to a national title, Hendrix’s addition looms even larger. As the Orange prepare to defend their championship, the arrival of a potential future star at quarterback ensures that the program’s momentum isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Syracuse Orange Recruiting - 2029
NAME	POS	CLASS	HOMETOWN	HT	WT	CALIBER
Immanuel Hendrix (13th)	QB	HS	Coeur D Alene, ID	6'4	232
Maurice Lokombo (27th)	DE	HS	Oxon Hill, MD	6'4	254
James Weinsteen (31st)	DT	HS	Avon, CT	6'6	319
Nolan Drake (32nd)	WR	HS	Royse City, TX	6'0	199
Vonn Thomas (37th)	CB	HS	New Rochelle, NY	5'11	183
Nick Azumah (65th)	SS	HS	Irmo, SC	6'1	214
Conor Gladstone (124th)	FS	HS	West Orange, NJ	6'3	206
Jason Roth (134th)	LB	HS	Antioch, CA	6'2	244
Jahlil Canady (140th)	G	HS	Summerton, SC	6'3	325
Deontay Tonyan (143rd)	T	HS	Hartford, CT	6'5	304
DJ Booker (186th)	CB	HS	McCormick, SC	6'1	185
Max McGlockton (190th)	FS	HS	Richland, NJ	6'3	193
Jon Droughns (195th)	T	HS	Needham, MA	6'6	295
Matthew Durant (320th)	C	HS	Freehold, NJ	6'2	310
Dalton Wear (326th)	WR	HS	Groton, MA	6'3	185
Timmy Vernon (352nd)	LB	HS	Stafford, VA	5'11	220
Matt Clay (360th)	DT	HS	Canton, MS	6'1	292
Jermaine Boutte (390th)	CB	HS	Blythewood, SC	6'1	185
Darren Hayes (1156th)	G	HS	Paramus, NJ	6'4	301
Mohammad Ha (1233rd)	P	HS	Lehigh Acres, FL	6'2	222
Trent Hahn (1257)	LB	HS	Port Orange, FL	6'2	237
Ian Shaw (1485)	CB	HS	Rumson, NJ	6'0	178
Tyrell Sands	HB	JUCO So	West Virginia	5'11	204

Top Recruiting Classes - 2029
RK	TEAM	5	4	3	2	1	TOTAL
1	Florida	6	22	7	0	0	35
2	Syracuse	4	15	4	0	0	23
3	Oklahoma	4	20	8	0	0	32
4	Oregon	2	31	2	0	0	35
5	Michigan	1	19	12	0	0	32
6	Miami	1	22	12	0	0	35
7	Ole Miss	1	21	13	0	0	35
8	Notre Dame	1	20	13	0	0	34
9	Texas	1	16	13	0	0	30
10	Ohio State	1	18	9	0	0	28
11	Tennessee	1	23	10	0	0	34
12	LSU	1	14	15	0	0	30
13	Alabama	0	16	3	0	0	19
14	Clemson	0	17	8	0	0	25
15	Georgia	0	13	17	0	0	30
16	Wisconsin	0	9	17	9	0	35
17	Penn State	0	11	18	0	0	29
18	Virginia Tech	0	8	11	15	0	34
19	Ball State	1	8	8	0	0	17
20	Stanford	0	7	16	0	0	23
21	UCLA	1	6	16	1	0	24
22	Maryland	0	10	8	1	0	19
23	Houston	0	8	13	3	0	24
24	Auburn	0	8	19	5	0	32
25	Georgia Tech	0	8	12	1	0	21

Ball State Recruiting

Spoiler

Ball State Cardinals Recruiting - 2029
NAME	POS	CLASS	HOMETOWN	HT	WT	CALIBER
Spencer McElmurry	TE	HS	Cleveland, TN	6'1	188
Addison Grossman	DT	HS	Woodstock, IL	6'4	322
Graham Vohasek	CB	HS	Minooka, IL	6'2	192
Melvin Casher	DE	HS	Milan, MI	6'1	263
Josh Ogle	LB	HS	Sterling, IL	6'4	261
Brian Sapp	T	HS	Rigby, ID	6'4	324
James Nicholson	G	HS	Merrillville, IN	6'3	315
Vai Smoot	C	HS	Boise, ID	6'4	295
Gill Body	CB	JUCO Jr	Paw Paw, MI	6'2	191
Bo Forrest	CB	HS	Evanston, IL	6'2	183
De'Angelo Woodside	P	HS	Kansas City, MO	6'3	190
JC McMillon	WR	HS	Chesapeake, VA	6'1	182
Kyle Boyett	C	HS	Bloomington, IN	6'2	284
Cam Gesicki	FS	HS	Silver Spring, MD	6'2	196
Manny Griffiths	QB	HS	Idaho Falls, ID	6'5	199
Nick Lampkin	WR	HS	Flossmoor, IL	5'11	181

Name	Position	Old School	New School
Tyree Singletary 4*	QB	Washington State	Ohio State
Tyrell Sands 4*	HB	West Virignia	Syracuse
Steve Wolf 4*	HB	Utah	LSU
Dalton Denley 4*	HB	Louisiana	Alabama
Dalton Baggs 4*	HB	SMU	Oklahoma State
Devante Slaughter 4*	WR	Miami (OH)	Ball State
Tavarius Hundley 4*	WR	Pittsburgh	Tennessee
Franklin Lokombo 4*	WR	Virginia Tech	Alabama
Danny Terrell 4*	WR	NC State	Tennessee
Kevin Cobbs 4*	TE	Iowa State	Alabama
Dennis Durant 4*	T	Iowa State	Ohio State
Russ Worthy 4*	T	Minnesota	Ohio State
Steve Rhattigan 4*	T	Buffalo	Notre Dame
Max Bordelon 4*	G	Iowa State	Ohio State
Stephen Wake 4*	G	UTSA	Texas
Tyler Morris 4*	C	Buffalo	Illinois
Emanuel Bravo 4*	DE	SMU	Texas
Toby Meinerz 3*	DE	Ball State	Northern Illinois
James Banfield 4*	DT	UNLV	USC
Alex Sauter 4*	LB	Buffalo	Clemson
Ruben Petrula 4*	MLB	Memphis	Georgia
Cameron Wentz 4*	MLB	Utah	Clemson
Conrad Carmichael 4*	CB	Oklahoma	Texas
Paul Faulk 4*	CB	Penn State	Ohio State
Bradley Capps 4*	FS	Minnesota	Georgia
Deandre Childs 4*	FS	Charlotte	Clemson

[Deuce2223]

Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

Love me some CDA Idaho.. I lived and worked 30 minutes from there for 5 years and still go back to visit friends all the time.. It's beautiful.. Huge Lake to boat and fish and also ton's of amazing disc golf courses in there and about 45 mins North.

[redsox907]

Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

Love me some CDA Idaho.. I lived and worked 30 minutes from there for 5 years and still go back to visit friends all the time.. It's beautiful.. Huge Lake to boat and fish and also ton's of amazing disc golf courses in there and about 45 mins North.

Got it....scrapping the story about how boring it is in CDA, leading to Hendrix becoming a film savant and his gold field general badge....

Doing some free practice with him vs Seri and its night and day, I don't know if it's just the lefty thing that I'm still not used to, but the plays feel like they flow SO much better with Hendrix. Hopefully it translates, cause he's being thrown into the fire this year. No warm up games on the schedule

[redsox907]

Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

CRC Makes Conference Re-Alignment Official For 2030

Indianapolis, IN. - The College Realignment Committee (CRC) has finalized its proposed 2030 College Football realignment with one notable adjustment.

“After further consideration, the lone change we will be making to the 2030 conferences is that Tulane, not Tulsa, will be joining the Big 12 alongside Ball State and Baylor,” announced Mark Emmert in a press release.

While the restructuring had long been anticipated, some fans voiced displeasure over divisional shifts, particularly the separation of Auburn and Alabama into different SEC divisions.

“We understand the longstanding tradition of the Iron Bowl, but it was an inevitable casualty of the Seminoles returning to the ACC,” stated Nick Saban.

“The teams will remain in the same conference and will continue playing the Iron Bowl on a rotational basis alongside the rest of the SEC Southwest Division,” added the legendary Alabama coach.

A source close to the CRC revealed that the committee had hoped the SEC would adjust its scheduling to preserve the annual rivalry. However, with no action taken, there is growing consideration for a division realignment within the SEC as soon as 2031 to rectify the decision.

Other major changes include the Mountain West swapping San Jose State and USC in exchange for Pac-12’s BYU and Colorado. Additionally, Marshall will move to the MAC to replace Ball State, while Liberty will join the AAC. Boston College and Florida State will return to the ACC, with Florida State placed in the Carolina Division and Boston College in the Atlantic. Texas A&M will shift to the SEC to replace Florida State. Meanwhile, neither the Big Ten nor Conference USA will add teams despite the latter losing two programs.


**Tab in upper left of Map Header enables viewing by conference**

[redsox907]

Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

Syracuse Orange 2030 Season Preview



Syracuse, NY. - For the first time in 70 years, the Syracuse Orange enter a new season as reigning national champions. While they’ll need to replace seven starters on defense, all eyes are on the most crucial position in football as they begin their title defense in 2030.

Jumaane Cox cemented himself as a Syracuse legend with his unexpected heroics in the Rose Bowl and a dominant performance against Alabama in the National Championship. His rise to glory left Dennis Seri—once expected to be the program’s future—in his shadow. Despite speculation that he might enter the transfer portal, Seri returns to Syracuse for his junior season, hoping to carve out his own legacy after losing his starting job.

However, if early signs from spring camp hold true, Seri may not get that chance.

Enter five-star freshman Immanuel Hendrix—the electrifying talent who has already captivated the Orange faithful, earning nicknames like “Himmanuel” and “Voodoo Child.” Coaches and fans alike have been raving about his ability, and his impact has been undeniable.

“His football IQ is mind-blowing,” said former Heisman winner and current passing game coordinator Kadin Semonza. “He’s making reads and diagnosing coverages at a level I didn’t reach until my junior year.”

While Hendrix has stolen the spotlight, he’s not the only young talent making noise.

“I said last season that Dalton [Ware] was a guy to watch, and he’s making me look good this spring,” joked head coach Nash Savage following the spring game.

At 6’3”, Ware brings a big-play element to the Orange offense, but breaking into the starting lineup won’t be easy with returning stars Felix Redwine and Carlos Simms leading the way, along with former top recruit Roy McCleon likely securing the third receiver spot. Even so, Savage expects Ware to see “plenty” of playing time in 2030.

One of the biggest adjustments for Syracuse will be moving forward without their do-it-all playmaker Spencer Vernon. The converted quarterback was a dynamic threat as both a receiver and a runner, but the Orange still boast one of the nation’s most dominant offensive weapons—running back JC Hoag.

The nation’s leading rusher over the past two seasons, Hoag is once again expected to shoulder a heavy workload.

“Hoag is definitely going to get a big share of carries again,” Savage confirmed. “I don’t know if another 300-plus carry season is in the cards, but he’ll have a bigger role in the passing game. We haven’t needed him in that role the past two years because of Spence, but we have a deep running back room to help keep him fresh for the playoff push—if we get there.”

As has been the case since Savage took over, Syracuse faces a brutal non-conference slate to open the season.

For the second straight year, the Orange will kick things off in the Aflac Kickoff Game, once again against the 12th ranked Florida Gators.

“I know it’s going to be a fast introduction to college football,” Hendrix said about potentially making his first start against Florida. “But I take pride in my preparation and film study. I’m confident I’ll be ready for whatever they throw at me.”

Following the opener, Syracuse returns home for a rivalry showdown with Penn State before hosting the No. 6 Texas Longhorns at the JMA Dome in a marquee early-season matchup.

Even the ACC schedule presents new challenges, as the Orange will travel to Death Valley for their first road game against Clemson in the Savage era, along with a rivalry clash at Boston College.

With a potential star at quarterback, a dominant run game, and a tough schedule ahead, Syracuse’s title defense won’t be easy. But if history has shown anything, it’s that Nash Savage’s squad thrives under pressure.

Syracuse Orange 2030 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Aug 31	at #12 Florida (8-4)
Sep 7	vs Penn State (6-7)
Sep 14	vs #6 Texas (12-3)
Sep 21	vs BYE
Sep 28	vs BYE
Oct 5	vs Georgia Tech (5-7)
Oct 12	at #20 Clemson (9-4)
Oct 19	at Boston College (8-5)
Oct 26	vs West Virginia (6-7)
Nov 2	at Maryland (7-6)
Nov 9	vs #23 Pittsburgh (7-6)
Nov 16	at Virginia (7-6)
Nov 23	at Virginia Tech (5-7)
Nov 30	vs #19 Miami (9-4)

Position	Name	Class	Original OVR	Current OVR
QB	Dennis Seri	JR(RS)	77	86
QB	Immanuel Hendrix	FR	80	80
QB	Troy McKinney	SO(RS)	68	75
HB	JC Hoag	JR	75	92
HB	Trenton Gilliam	JR	72	88
HB	Tyrell Sands	JR(RS)	86	86
HB	Lee Browner	FR(RS)	74	84
HB	Larry Pettis	FR(RS)	70	79
JR(RS)	Tevin Westerman	JR(RS)	72	78
WR	Felix Redwine	SR(RS)	81	89
WR	Carlos Simms	SR(RS)	82	87
WR	Roy McCleon	FR(RS)	75	82
WR	Elton Romberg	JR(RS)	68	78
WR	Spencer Everett	FR(RS)	74	76
WR	James Alba	SO(RS)	67	74
WR	Dalton Wear	FR	74	74
WR	Nolan Drake	FR	73	73
TE	Danny Pace	SR	79	87
TE	Don Zimmerman	JR	75	86
TE	Jeffrey Franz	JR	75	86
TE	Ryan Magoolaghan	FR(RS)	75	78
TE	Mat McGargile	FR(RS)	72	75
T	Joey Bierria	JR(RS)	71	84
T	Tim Cleveland	FR(RS)	76	78
T	Antwuan Loudermilk	SO	81	85
T	Antwan Calmelat	SO(RS)	76	82
T	Deontay Tonyan-2	FR	77	77
T	Jon Droughns	FR	76	76
G	Tyler Bland	SR(RS)	80	93
G	Marvin Ford	JR(RS)	74	84
G	Brian Hall	FR(RS)	71	77
G	Jahlil Canady	FR	76	76
G	Darren Hayes	FR	68	68
G	Dakota Soto	JR(RS)	79	89
G	Dallas Eulls	SO(RS)	61	84
G	Bruce Wheat	FR(RS)	77	82
G	Sam Yates	FR(RS)	75	78
C	Dennis Strong	SR(RS)	80	87
C	Matthew Durant	FR	75	75
C	De'Angelo Volson	FR(RS)	65	69
DE	Jason Veasy	JR	78	89
DE	Nelson Stephen	SO(RS)	74	82
DE	Dawand Ijalana	SO(RS)	66	81
DE	Robert Foster	JR(RS)	82	89
DE	Miguel Barbosa	SR(RS)	75	86
DE	Salesi Tuaolo	SR(RS)	78	84
DE	Walter Kush	SO(RS)	58	80
DE	Amani Little	FR(RS)	76	80
DE	Maurice Lokombo	FR	78	78
DT	John Savage	JR(RS)	75	81
DT	Terrell Strum	FR(RS)	79	81
DT	Matt Clay	FR	76	76
DT	James Weinsteen	FR	76	76
LB	Clay Mooney	JR(RS)	76	82
LB	Brian Vallos	SR(RS)	57	68
LB	Demetrious Vilma	FR(RS)	75	86
LB	Marquise Johns	SR(RS)	79	85
LB	Jason Roth	FR	76	76
LB	Trent Hahn	FR	75	75
MLB	Max Shaver	SR	82	91
MLB	Ernie McHugh	JR(RS)	83	88
MLB	Cam McQuaide	SO(RS)	70	83
MLB	Timmy Vernon	FR	79	79
CB	Deron Wusu	SR(RS)	83	86
CB	Kevin Schweitzer	SO(RS)	75	83
CB	Jeremiah Paris	FR(RS)	71	79
CB	Ken LaRue	JR(RS)	74	77
CB	Jeremiah Boutte	FR	77	77
CB	Paul Reinhart	SO(RS)	68	76
CB	DJ Booker	FR	76	76
CB	Vonn Thomas	FR	75	75
CB	Kasey Cobb	SO(RS)	66	74
CB	Ian Shaw	FR	73	73
FS	Clyde Weaver	SR(RS)	76	79
FS	Corbin Houghtaling	SO(RS)	72	79
FS	Max Labron	SO(RS)	72	77
FS	Quin Cheeseman	FR(RS)	74	76
FS	Conor Gladstone	FR	75	75
FS	Max McGlockton	FR	75	75
SS	Tyree Kight	JR(RS)	78	85
SS	Layne Smith	SO(RS)	73	80
SS	Nick Azumah	FR	74	74
SS	Ricky Jerry	SO(RS)	60	71
K	Desmond Brewer	JR	77	82
P	Mohammad Ha	FR	69	69

Ball State Cardinals 2030 Season Preview

Muncie, IN. - Spring camp in Muncie has become a familiar story, as the Cardinals enter yet another season with a new head coach—Mark Stoops, the program’s fourth in as many years.

Following Nash Savage’s three-year tenure, which brought Ball State its first national championship, the Cardinals saw brief but successful stints under Kliff Kingsbury and Mike Bloomgren. However, both departed after a single season, lured away by Michigan and Florida, respectively. Now, as Ball State embarks on its first season in the Big 12, the program looks to Stoops to bring stability and success.

Stoops arrives in Muncie with an impressive résumé, most recently guiding Stanford to the 2027 National Championship game—only to fall to Savage’s Ball State squad. “There are still a few guys here from that championship team, so I’m excited to work with some phenomenal players,” Stoops said this spring. “Despite the coaching turnover, the recruiting standard has remained high, and you can see the talent on the field on both sides of the ball.”

As the Cardinals transition to their new conference, a major question looms: Can senior quarterback Titus Awe harness his immense talent and limit costly mistakes in big games? Awe has put up staggering numbers over the past two seasons—9,580 passing yards, 110 touchdowns, and 66 interceptions, along with 2,090 rushing yards and 24 scores. However, his struggles in critical moments have been a recurring issue. Costly interceptions doomed Ball State in marquee matchups, including five against CMU, four in the 2028 College Football Playoff loss to Boston College, and six against Texas in the 2029 Peach Bowl. Stoops and new offensive coordinator Gerad Parker will look to maximize Awe’s playmaking ability while minimizing his high-risk tendencies.

As has become tradition, the Cardinals will break in their new head coach with a tough season opener on the road against Notre Dame. However, unlike previous years packed with top-ranked non-conference opponents, Ball State has made an effort to maintain key rivalries, scheduling matchups against former MAC foes Northern Illinois and Miami University.

“We wanted to preserve the rivalries we’ve built over the years, but it won’t necessarily be an every-season thing,” said Ball State athletic director Jeff Mitchell. The program intends to rotate matchups with its former conference rivals in future seasons.

Before diving into Big 12 play for the first time, Ball State will also travel to the West Coast for a showdown with USC at the Coliseum. With a new coach, a high-powered offense, and a fresh challenge in a Power Five conference, the 2030 season marks the beginning of an exciting new era for the Cardinals.

Ball State Cardinals 2030 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Aug 31	at Notre Dame (6-7)
Sep 7	vs Northern Illinois (8-5)
Sep 14	at #21 USC (10-3)
Sep 21	vs BYE
Sep 28	vs Miami (OH) (5-7)
Oct 5	vs BYE
Oct 12	at SMU (7-6)
Oct 19	vs Houston (9-5)
Oct 26	vs Nebraska (9-4)
Nov 2	at #8 Missouri (9-4)
Nov 9	vs #7 Kansas State (9-4)
Nov 16	at Kansas (6-7)
Nov 23	at Arkansas (9-5)
Nov 30	vs Iowa State (6-7)

Ball State Cardinals Depth Chart - 2030
Regular Offense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
WR	FR(RS) Lionel Merrick (82)	JR Frank Snyder (81)	JR(RS) Jacob LaCosse (79)	SR(RS) Braden Malik (77)
TE	SO Zach Byham (85)	FR Spencer McElmurry (76)	SR(RS) Nathan Blades (74)	FR(RS) Terrence Hester (71)
LT	SR Shakir Cribbs (91)	SO(RS) Terry Rhodes (81)	SO(RS) Anthony McSorley (75)	FR(RS) Clint Rogan (73)
LG	SO(RS) Noah Meeks (83)	FR(RS) Miles Hart (77)
C	SR(RS) Alonzo Atogwe (85)	FR(RS) Rico Stingley (81)	SO(RS) Scott Landry (77)	FR Vai Smoot (75)
RG	JR(RS) Tyler Carraway (88)	SO Garrett Scherff (81)	FR James Nicholson (77)
RT	JR(RS) Terrence Madison (89)	SR(RS) Rashad Bunting (80)	SR(RS) James Fritts (79)	FR Brian Sapp (75)
WR	SR DeVante Slaughter (87)	FR(RS) Robby Van Maanen (82)	SO(RS) Spencer Lewis (81)	JR Daryl Pope (79)
QB	SR Titus Awe (85)	JR PJ Barmore (81)	FR(RS) Taylor Beckner (78)	FR Max Griffiths (65)
HB	SR Cortez Duval (92)	SR(RS) Legend Ogbogu (88)	JR Connor Higdon (71)	SO Floyd Gallimore (71)
Base 3-4 Defense
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LDE	JR(RS) Stephen Hippenhammer (90)	FR(RS) Zac York (77)
NT	JR(RS) Timote Dove (90)	SR(RS) Imani Miles (87)	FR Addison Grossman (79)
RDE	SR(RS) Rashaud Pepper (80)	SR(RS) George Bushman (81)	FR Melvin Casher (75)
LOLB	SR(RS) Junior Nakamura (78)	FR Josh Ogle (76)	JR(RS) Jarrad Ogle (75)
LILB	SO(RS) Jelani Philip (92)	JR(RS) Diego Camacho (81)
RILB	SR(RS) Matthew Scroggins (89)	JR(RS) Terrence Rossouw (67)
ROLB	SO(RS) Bart Blackstock (84)	SO(RS) DJ Ojabo (83)	SR(RS) Bryce McClover (75)	SR(RS) Derek Plummer (69)
CB	SR(RS) Timothy Hay (85)	JR(RS) Marcus Badie (83)	JR(RS) Jimmy Hurns (75)	FR Gill Body (69)
SS	JR John Stock (83)	JR(RS) Jeremy Maslowski (81)
FS	SR(RS) Steven Tyree (86)	JR(RS) Pat Ruggins (78)	FR Cam Gesicki (70)
CB	FR(RS) Prince Beach (84)	JR(RS) Cooper Mahoney (78)	FR Graham Vohasek (75)	FR Bo Forrest (66)

[Deuce2223]

Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

The Orange roster looks solid. Unless you lose some Juniors to the NFl I could see you competing for a chance at a 3 peat.

Ball State on the other hand looks like they should be competitive in the Big 12 this year but will need to replace alot of graduating Seniors on both sides of the Ball. Hopefully Coach Stoops can bring in a top tier class to keep things going

[redsox907]

Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

The Orange roster looks solid. Unless you lose some Juniors to the NFl I could see you competing for a chance at a 3 peat.

Ball State on the other hand looks like they should be competitive in the Big 12 this year but will need to replace alot of graduating Seniors on both sides of the Ball. Hopefully Coach Stoops can bring in a top tier class to keep things going

If Hendrix ends up being the real deal we should be set offensively. Hoag is likely gone as is Veasy, but we've built up the depth enough that their departure shouldn't hamper us.

I got the CEO and Instant commit bundle after the 2nd natty so hopefully that will help with the recruiting early on, so I can spend more points on finding gems later in the recruiting cycle.

Recruiting last season for Ball State was rough. We were leading on a few more 5* and lost out on them at the last minute, but hopefully the increase in prestige ratings plus the new conference will help us secure a few more recruits. They ended up coming in at 5 spots short, so we'll have plenty of scholarships to offer this cycle. Overall wise Ball State, Kansas State, and Missouri are the top 3 overall wise in the Big 12, so I'm hoping for more of a challenge this season.

[redsox907]

Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

2030 Syracuse Recruiting Preview

Syracuse, NY. - Syracuse heads into the 2030 recruiting cycle with just 12 graduating seniors, though star running back JC Hoag and linebacker Jason Veasy are both expected to declare early for the NFL Draft.

With no urgent roster gaps to fill, the Orange are in the enviable position of focusing purely on elite talent rather than specific positional needs.

And it turns out that being the reigning national champion has its advantages. Five-star defensive end Nate Pitoitua, a Buffalo, NY native, wasted no time committing to Syracuse, signing his letter of intent before even entertaining offers from other programs.

Syracuse Recruiting - 2030
Championship Contender: A 13th (2nd - 2029)
Program Tradition: B+ 31st - (46th- 2029)
Campus Lifestyle: C 71st
Stadium Atmosphere: A- 21st (41st - 2029)
Pro Potential: A 9th (15th - 2029)
Brand Exposure: A- 23rd (27th - 2029)
Academic Prestige: B+
Conference Prestige: A+ 2nd (2nd - 2028)
Coach Stability: D+ 107th - (100th)
Coach Prestige: A+ 7th (7th - 2029)
Athletic Facilities: B 51st (48th - 2029)
Prestige: 4 1/2*

Syracuse Orange Recruiting - 2030
NAME	POS	CLASS	HOMETOWN	HT	WT	CALIBER
Cam Darr	WR	HS	Lincolnton, NC	6'6	203
Nate Pitoitua*	DE	HS	Buffalo, NY	6'6	270
Isaiah Largent	T	HS	Bronx, NY	6'3	271
Ronald Russo	T	HS	Bethesda, MO	6'4	321
Shariff Williams	CB	HS	Ridgeway, VA	5'10	180
Everett Wegher	MLB	HS	Bridgton, ME	6'1	243
Tyler Klopfenstein	MLB	HS	Rumson, NJ	6'0	237
Greg Ottis	G	HS	Brooklyn, NY	6'4	301
Channing Dillard	QB	HS	Camden, NJ	6'4	211
Max Mangum	WR	HS	Cicero, NY	6'2	185
Patrick Rimpf	CB	HS	Miami, FL	6'1	200
Rob McBurros	LB	HS	Paramus, NJ	6'4	236
Marco Bitonio	SS	HS	Sumter, SC	5'11	200
Caleb Bickley	FS	HS	Brooklyn, NY	5'10	206

Ball State Recruiting

Spoiler

Ball State Recruiting - 2030
Championship Contender: A+ 4th (3rd- 2029)
Program Tradition: A 13th (21st - 2029)
Campus Lifestyle: C 130th
Stadium Atmosphere: B- 66th (70th- 2029)
Pro Potential: B 47th (134th - 2029)
Brand Exposure: A- 21st (19th- 2029)
Academic Prestige: C 85th
Conference Prestige: A 3rd - (10th - 2029)
Coach Stability: D- 124th (125th - 2029)
Coach Prestige: A 15th (83rd - 2029)
Athletic Facilities: C 83rd (100th - 2029)
Team Prestige: 4* (3* - 2029)

Ball State Cardinals Recruiting - 2030
NAME	POS	CLASS	HOMETOWN	HT	WT	CALIBER
Matthew Dawkins	DE	HS	Chicago, IL	6'6	277
Fetu Sopoaga	DE	HS	Kansas City, MO	6'3	293
Rico Maijeh	DT	HS	Muskegon, MI	6'5	321
Brendan Eisen	HB	HS	Mentor, OH	5'10	198
Monty Monch	LB	HS	Danville, KY	6'0	223
Philip Trahan	ATH	HS	Chester, VA	6'1	241
Matt Brink	SS	HS	Detroit, MI	6'0	193
Lester Haggans	DT	HS	Memphis, TN	6'2	292
Travis Madu	G	HS	Middletown, OH	6'3	322
Bobby Mumphrey	QB	HS	Scottsdale, AZ	6'3	204
Terrelle Daniels	HB	HS	Knoxville, TN	6'0	202
Jay Rugamba	TE	HS	Avon, IN	6'3	257
Luke Avant	CB	HS	Chattanooga,TN	6'0	180

[Deuce2223]

Re: From The Shadows | The Rise Of "Nitro" Nash Savage (CFB25)

Better slow down those coaching rumors of Savage leaving. Your coach stability took a huge hit


On the other hand Ball State hiring Stoops was a massive upgrade in Coach prestige

Insta Commit is amazing got to love landing a 5#
Already