1. The injury bug has started to bite Ball State.
After playing against Army without two starters — running back Jahwan Edwards and defensive end Jonathan Newsome (who are listed as questionable for Saturday) — Ball State will be missing another starter on the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker Kenneth Lee is out for the game against North Texas with a knee injury suffered against Army. Head coach Pete Lembo said Junior Chris Calloway will replace him in the starting lineup.
Lembo’s Take:
“Kenny is a bigger guy, and when you’re going up against North Texas that is going to get into some two-backs and run power and run the lead play, you want a bigger guy in there. But Chris is a pretty physical player, he’s certainly not afraid to throw his body around. It’s nice to have some guys like that. Chris is going to have to be ready to play more snaps.“
2. Ball State will have a big man in the middle of North Texas’ defense to battle.
Richard Abbe, a senior defensive tackle for North Texas, is proving to be a difficult body to move in the interior of the Mean Green defensive line. He is listed at 6-foot-4, 320 pounds.
Lembo’s Take:
“He’s very athletic. He’s very different. We played a 320-pounder against Illinois State, a kid that was a transfer from Buffalo. Abbe is different. He’s much quicker, he’s longer. He reminds me a little bit of some of the guys we saw against South Florida and Central Florida.”
3. Ball State has been playing more defensive players this season than in recent history.
With the injuries this season to Newsome, Lee and linebacker Julian Boyd, who has missed the last two games, Ball State’s reserves have had to step up and play significant snaps. Defensive reserves Avery Bailey, Stephan Martin, Calloway and Michael Ayers have combined for 22 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss over the last two games.
Lembo’s Take:
“We played four safeties the other day. We’re playing three or four corners. We’re playing eight defensive linemen.”
4. North Texas has its own small slot receiver who can occasionally throw passes.
Wide receiver Brelan Chancellor is North Texas’ slot receiver and punt returner. He has physical similarities to Ball State’s Jamill Smith. Chancellor is listed at 5-foot-9 and 186 pounds, which is one inch taller and 46 pounds heavier than Smith. In North Texas’ first two games, Chancellor has seven catches for 168 yards and a touchdown.
Lembo’s Take:
“He’s a slot-type body who they move around a lot. He’s leading the country in punt returns right now. He’s a senior. You can tell he has a swagger about him. He’s a playmaker. They put him in the single-wing to run the wildcat.“
