Ball State football kicked off the Mike Uremovich era with its 2025 spring showcase.
Although the coaches treated the showcase as a usual practice, head coach Uremovich said the spring showcase was exciting for the players to get in front of the Muncie community for the first time in 2025.
Uremovich said he thinks the players adjusted well to the new coaching system. He said he plans to use the period between spring and summer to adjust the system to prepare for the upcoming season.
Redshirt senior linebacker Joey Stemler said the coaching staff under Uremovich has created strong vibes within the program. He said the players are enjoying playing for them, and it is a fun atmosphere.
Stemler played a large role alongside graduated Ball State linebacker Keionte Newson in the 2024 defense, now the redshirt senior is a defensive leader with a True Cardinal patch on his uniform. A True Cardinal is a leader in every aspect of the team, no matter the position, grade or age.
“I'm just taking over by trying to make sure guys are in the right place and doing what they are supposed to do,” Stemler said. “I also make sure guys understand that I trust them, and they can trust me as well. If something's wrong, they can come to me, I’m always open. If things aren't right we can figure it out together.”
Stemler said he was genuinely impressed by every newcomer on the defense. The defense had multiple pass breakups and sacks in the showcase.
Transfers redshirt junior defensive back Roman Pearson and senior defensive end Nathan Voorhis both made substantial plays.
Uremovich said he thought the Cardinals started slow to save themselves for the scrimmage section of the practice, which is something he said will be addressed in the summer.
The head coach said the 2025 Cardinals are going to compete and play hard. He said the players have done everything they have been asked to do.
“I’m looking forward to the summer and camp with the effort they put in, not just on the field, but in the off-season with the training and lifting,” Uremovich said.
Redshirt senior quarterback Kiael Kelly played a wide variety of positions for Ball State in 2024, and he said the previous season gave him a new perspective on the quarterback position from the sidelines.
Kelly took the first-team reps in the showcase and tossed a handful of touchdowns in the 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 practice periods.
Uremovich said he was encouraged by Kelly in the showcase with his ability to make smart choices. Kelly did not throw an interception, and Uremovich said he liked how Kelly took some sacks instead of trying to force the ball.
“Sometimes the throws you don't make are more important than the great plays that you do make,” Uremovich said.
The redshirt senior quarterback said Uremovich does a great job of making the quarterback position as easy as possible but also makes the QB room understand that the Cardinals will go as far as they go.
“It’s just being able to understand that every day, I got to bring my best, because if I don't, then the team probably won't be playing at its best,” Kelly said.
Kelly said Uremovich has been great with connecting with every single person on the roster in spring camp.
“I feel like his enthusiasm and just what he brings every day, everybody feeds off it,” Kelly said. “You can see it.”
Kelly pointed out how Uremovich has made connections with people on the roster, but Kelly has also formed a relationship with freshman wide receiver Elisha Durham.
Durham said the first week he was on campus Kelly reached out to him to start working on the field.
“He's just a good guy,” Durham said. “Every night he calls me, we go over the script and the plays for the next day. He’s helped me a lot.”
Durham said all the quarterbacks have been able to instill confidence in him with their trust in the freshman to make the play when the ball is thrown his way.
Kelly said everyone felt like a freshman again with the new system, new coaching staff, new way of practicing and more. He said it has been a fun process the past spring practices to see what the Cardinals can become.
Ball State football will now enter a period of training before returning to the field in the summer and fall before the 2025 season officially kicks off against Purdue Aug. 30.
Contact Elijah Poe via email at elijah.poe@bsu.edu or via X @ElijahPoe4.
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