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2023 NFL Draft Prospect Report: Ball State Cardinals

Muncie has served as the home for some recent NFL success stories, and this class hopes to find their way to a similar ending.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 02 Western Illinois at Ball State Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Ball State Cardinals held their Pro Days on March 27 in front of an assembled crowd of NFL scouts as five players plied their craft to try and audition their way to a future professional home.

Below, we’ve assembled measurements, draft projections and Relative Athletic Scores of every participant, with an elevator pitch of their time in Muncie. All numbers are courtesy of Kent Lee Platte andNFLDraftScout.com.


Jaquan Amos

NCAA Football: Ball State at Tennessee Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

Amos is a former Villanova Wildcat who transferred to Ball State via Iowa State for his senior season. Amos finished his 2022 season with 95 tackles, including 6.5 tackles-for-loss, a half-sack and an interception, primarily as a starting safety. While at Villanova (2018-2020), Amos was known as a playmaker, with three forced fumbles, two recoveries, eight interceptions and 25 passes defensed. Won third-team all-conference defensive back honors at ‘Nova in 2020.

Likely projects as a UDFA or camp invitation.

Measurables (as of Pro Day)

  • Height:six-foot-one
  • Weight:196 lbs.
  • Arms:30 and seven-eighth inches
  • Hands:10 and one-eighth inches

Skill Drills (numbers from Pro Day)

  • 40-yard dash:4.52 seconds
  • 10-yard split:1.57 seconds
  • 20-yard split:2.63 seconds
  • Shuttle:4.34 seconds
  • Three-cone drill:6.85 seconds
  • Vertical jump:35 inches
  • Broad jump:10 feet

Relative Athletic Score:

Jaquan Amos’ Relative Athletic Score
Kent Lee Platte

Jayshon Jackson

NCAA Football: Army at Ball State Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

Jackson transferred to Muncie from Cincinnati in 2021, leading the team in receiving with 65 catches for 829 yards and five touchdowns. Jackson would finish his BSU career notching at least one catch in every game he played in Cardinal and White as part of a 37-game streak for his career. Relied upon as a volume receiver once again in 2022, with 73 catches for 823 yards and three touchdowns.

Likely projects as a UDFA or camp invitation.

Measurables (as of Pro Day)

  • Height:five-foot-10
  • Weight:182 lbs.
  • Arms:29 and seven-eighth inches
  • Hands:8 -八分之七inches

Skill Drills (numbers from Pro Day)

  • 40-yard dash:4.59 seconds
  • 10-yard split:1.64 seconds
  • 20-yard split:2.64 seconds
  • Shuttle:4.38 seconds
  • Three-cone drill:7.1 seconds
  • Vertical jump:31.5 inches
  • Broad jump:nine feet, nine inches

Relative Athletic Score:

Jayshon Jackson’s Relative Athletic Score
Kent Lee Platte

Nic Jones

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: SEP 02 Western Illinois at Ball State Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Jones is the star of the 2023 Ball State draft class, alreadyattracting interest from multiple NFL teamsthanks to a stellar 2022 campaign and an impressive performance under the primetime lights at the East-West Shrine Bowl. Jones, primarily a press man shutdown corner, was a second-team all-MAC corner this past season, with 23 tackles, 12 pass break-ups and two interceptions.

Jones’ projections are a bit across the board; he currently projects as anywhere from a Day 2 prospect to a UDFA. Regardless, he could see immediate impact as a special teamer.

Draft Projections:

Measurables (as of Combine)

  • Height:five-foot-eleven
  • Weight:190 lbs.
  • Arms:31 and three-quarter inches
  • Hands:9 and three-quarter inches

Skill Drills (numbers from Combine)

  • 40-yard dash:4.51 seconds
  • 10-yard split:1.55 seconds
  • 20-yard split:2.57 seconds
  • Shuttle:4.34 seconds
  • Three-cone drill:N/A
  • Vertical jump:34.5 inches
  • Broad jump:10 feet, two inches

Relative Athletic Score:

Nic Jones’ Relative Athletic Score
Kent Lee Platte


Yo’Heinz Tyler

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 17 Central Michigan at Ball State Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Tyler was a five-year contributor in Muncie, appearing in every game he was both eligible and healthy from 2018 onwards, playing in 52 contests for the Cardinals. Finished the 2022 season with 49 catches for 441 yards and one touchdown. Earned third-team all-MAC receiver honors in 2020, and finished BSU career with at least one reception in 38-straight games.

Likely projects as a UDFA or camp invite.

Measurables (as of Pro Day)

  • Height:six-foot-two
  • Weight:207 lbs.
  • Arms:32 and five-eighth inches
  • Hands:9 and one-half inches

Skill Drills (numbers from Pro Day)

  • 40-yard dash:4.61 seconds
  • 10-yard split:1.59 seconds
  • 20-yard split:2.7 seconds
  • Shuttle:4.52 seconds
  • Three-cone drill:7.2 seconds
  • Vertical jump:36 inches
  • Broad jump:10 feet, two inches

Relative Athletic Score:

Yo’Heinz Tyler’s Relative Athletic Score
Kent Lee Platte


AJ Uzodinma II

NCAA Football: Ball State at Wyoming Troy Babbitt-USA TODAY Sports

Uzodinma is another five-year contributor at Ball State, playing in every game eligible from 2018 to 2022, starting in all but nine of his 52 appearances. A 2019 all-MAC second-team defensive back, Uzodinma finished his career with 172 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, two sacks, 44 pass break-ups, 10 interceptions, two forced fumbles and two recoveries.

A playmaker corner, his best years were 2019 (five interceptions, 17 pass break-ups) and this past season (three interceptions, 12 pass break-ups.) He likely projects as a UDFA or camp invite.

Measurables (as of Pro Day)

  • Height:five-foot-10
  • Weight:189 lbs.
  • Arms:31 inches
  • Hands:8 and three-quarter inches

Skill Drills (numbers from Pro Day)

  • 40-yard dash:4.59 seconds
  • 10-yard split:1.52 seconds
  • 20-yard split:2.63 seconds
  • Shuttle:4.4 seconds
  • Three-cone drill:7.19 seconds
  • Vertical jump:36 inches
  • Broad jump:nine feet, eight inches

Relative Athletic Score:

Kent Lee Platte