Ball State football coach Mike Uremovich has announced the addition of 12 new student-athlete football players that will join the Cardinals’ program in 2025. All are incoming freshmen, with the exception of transfer Adam Dolan who will graduate from Butler this spring and play in his final year of eligibility at Ball State.
Ball State’s 2025 February Signing Day Additions – Incoming Freshmen:
Gabe Aramboles – ATH, 6-0, 196, Fr., Westfield, Ind./Westfield HS
Jamar Birden – DE, 6-3, 225, Fr., Waycross, Ga./Ware County HS
Jalen Bonds – RB, 6-0, 200, Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS
Kaden Mayle – OL, 6-6, 315, Fremont, Ohio/Fremont Ross HS
* Sam Spicer – OL, 6-5, 275, Mount Juliet, Tenn./Pope John Paul II HS
* Lucas Szymborski – LB, 6-2, 220, Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point HS
* Derion Talbert – WR, 5-9, 165, Lexington, Ky./Frederick Douglass HS
Coby Tripp – LS, 6-0, 190, Spring Arbor, Mich./Western HS
Michael Varon – OL, 6-4, 280, Palatine, Ill./Fremd HS
* Mikeah Webster – LB, 6-1, 230, Sheridan, Ind./Westfield HS
Khalel Wright – QB, 6-2, 190, Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day HS
Ball State’s 2025 February Signing Day Additions – Transfers:
Adam Dolan – OL, 6-8, 300, R-Sr., Clarkston, Mich./Butler
* Signed during December signing period, but not announced at the time
More on each new signee can be found below:
Gabe Aramboles – ATH, 6-0, 196, Fr., Westfield, Ind./Westfield HS
Helped Westfield to the IHSAA 6A state title game and a 12-2 record in 2024, lining up at both wide receiver and defensive back … signs with Ball State classified as an “Athlete” … caught 38 passes for 548 yards and five touchdowns, despite being injured late in his senior campaign … played in 10 games and led the Shamrocks with 54.8 receiving yards per game … named to the 2024 IndyStar football preseason Super Team at wide receiver.
Jamar Birden – DE, 6-3, 225, Fr., Waycross, Ga./Ware County HS
Saw varsity action in three seasons at Ware County HS in Southeast Georgia … enjoyed a breakout senior year as an edge rusher in 2024, logging 54 total tackles, 21.0 TFL and 9.0 sacks … earned first team all-region honors from Georgia High School Football Daily for his efforts in his final campaign … was a member of the Gators’ undefeated state championship squad in 2022 … garnered a three-star rating from 247Sports … held offers from Duke, Tennessee and Indiana before signing with Ball State.
Jalen Bonds – RB, 6-0, 200, Fr., Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral HS
Arrives in Muncie after a standout career with perennial Indianapolis-area powerhouse Cathedral … rushed for 1,507 yards and 10 touchdowns in his career with the Irish … saw limited touches in his senior campaign due to injury, but posted a stellar junior season, which earned him all-state honors … named to IndyStar’s 2024 preseason Super Team … chose Ball State over Mid-American Conference foes Toledo and Miami.
Adam Dolan – OL, 6-8, 300, R-Sr., Clarkston, Mich./Butler
Three-time All-Pioneer League offensive lineman transfers to Ball State this summer following graduation from Butler … a three-year starter at left tackle and a first-team All-PFL selection in 2023 and 2024, he was instrumental in leading the Bulldogs among top FCS offensive teams the past three years … earned a redshirt in 2021 out of Orchard Lake St. Mary’s HS in Michigan where he lettered two seasons and helped his team to a district and league championship … also a three-time academic honoree by the PFL.
Kaden Mayle – OL, 6-6, 315, Fr., Fremont, Ohio/Fremont Ross HS
Contributed at the varsity level across three seasons at Fremont Ross High School (Ohio) … played in 2024 U.S. Army All-American Bowl … twice named to the OHSAA’s Division II All-Ohio Team (2023 and 2024) … earned three-star ranking from 247Sports and received offers from six Mid-American Conference schools, including Toledo, Central Michigan and Bowling Green.
Sam Spicer – OL, 6-5, 275, Fr., Mount Juliet, Tenn./Pope John Paul II HS
Versatile lineman played both sides of the ball at Pope John Paul II High School (Tenn.) … logged 23 tackles as an interior defensive lineman in two seasons of varsity action … committed to the Cardinals ahead of his senior campaign … drew a three-star rating from 247Sports … also played varsity lacrosse for the Knights.
Lucas Szymborski – LB, 6-2, 220, Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point HS
Enters his time with the Cardinals after making a pair of stops in his high school career … spent first three years at Cleveland High School (Tenn.), where he was a varsity letterwinner in football and a two-time Tennessee state wrestling champion … brought his talents back to Crown Point, his hometown, for his senior season … anchored the Bulldogs’ defense on its Class 6A state championship run and earned 6A all-state honors in 2024.
Derion Talbert – WR, 5-9, 165, Fr., Lexington, Ky./Frederick Douglass HS
Played four years for powerhouse Frederick Douglass High School in Lexington, Kentucky … helped the Broncos to two Class 6A semifinals appearances (2023 and 2024), a Class 6A championship run (2021) and a Class 6A title (2022) … garnered three-star recognition from 247Sports and held offers from Mid-American Conference foes Western Michigan, Kent State and Miami… joins fellow Frederick Douglass alumni Caden Johnson and TJ Horton on the Cardinals’ roster.
Coby Tripp – LS, 6-0, 190, Fr., Spring Arbor, Mich./ Western HS
Served as the starting long snapper for Parma Western High School (Mich.) … helped the Panthers notch winning records in each of his four seasons … earned academic all-state honors in 2024 from the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association … received a 5-star rating and ranked 22nd nationally by Rubio Long Snapping.
Michael Varon – OL, 6-4, 280, Fr., Palatine, Ill./Fremd HS
Sizable offensive lineman enters his collegiate career on the heels of an accomplished career at Fremd High School in suburban Chicago … helped the Vikings earn their highest win total (9) in 15 years in his senior campaign … appeared on the Daily Herald’s 2024 Cook County All-Area team.
Mikeah Webster – LB, 6-1, 230, Fr., Sheridan, Ind./Westfield HS
Enjoyed a fine prep career at Westfield High School that concluded with an appearance in the Class 6A state title game … was a force on both sides of the ball for the Shamrocks, scoring a combined 11 touchdowns in his career and logging 280 total tackles … earned IFCA All-State honors in 2023 and 2024 … named to the IndyStar’s 2024 football Super Team … earned a three-star rating from 247Sports and ranked the sixth-best linebacker in Indiana in the class of 2025 … younger brother of Ball State redshirt junior Maximus Webster.
Khalel Wright – QB, 6-2, 190, Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Country Day HS
Dual-threat quarterback arrives at Ball State following an accomplished career under center at Charlotte Country Day (N.C.) … held primary quarterbacking duties his sophomore, junior and senior seasons, recording 3,716 passing yards and 1,799 rushing yards and registering a combined 42 passing and rushing touchdowns … named his team’s offensive player of the year in three straight seasons … twice named to the CISAA all-conference team and invited to the 2024 Queen City Senior Bowl… runs a 4.5 40-yard dash … son of former South Carolina signal caller and NFL veteran Anthony Wright.
Under the leadership of new head coach Mike Uremovich, season tickets for the 2025 Ball State football season are on sale now. Learn more at BallStateSports.com/2025Football.
