Ball State football training camp: Linebackers Coll, Pearce, Houston are ‘glue’ of defense

MUNCIE, Ind. — Ball State football has many newcomers this fall, and with roster turnover comes uncertainty about how units will perform.

The Cardinals' linebackers, though, are proven, specifically in the experienced trio of seniors Clayton Coll and Sidney Houston Jr., and fifth-year Cole Pearce, a group with a combined 44 starts overall.

At Mid-American Conference football media day, head coach Mike Neu called them "the strength of our football team."

"They are some of the top guys in our program off the field in terms of character, in terms of work ethic, in terms of the weight room, in terms of handling business in the classroom," Neu said. "They're great mentors for younger players that come into our program and they're exceptional football players for us."

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All three were named to preseason All-MAC teams by numerous publications, and Coll even earned a spot on HERO Sports' Preseason Group of 5 Second Team All-American list.

Coll, a team captain, also received Second Team All-MAC honors last season after totaling a team-high 110 total tackles, seven TFLs, two sacks, two QB hurries, two forced fumbles and four pass breakups.

He's the most accomplished and vocal of the threesome, the mike linebacker responsible for communicating information to the entire defense. It's a job he doesn't take lightly and one he feels more comfortable inhabiting now more than ever.

"This is by far the best mentally I've ever felt going into a season," Coll said. "When I see something that I think is going to hurt us in football, that's going to hurt us and not allow us to win football games, obviously, I'm gonna step up and say something. If I see something on the field that's going to help them, I'm gonna say it."

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Coll's has set a higher standard of communication after last season when he felt that aspect of the defense could've been sharper, and he's been pleased by the players' increased emphasis on that during the first two training camp practices.

"You've got to be on the same page," Coll said. "If one guy messes up, you're going to see it. It's going to be glaring."

Coll's vocal prowess is offset by his middle linebacker mate, Pearce, who in 2022 led BSU in sacks (five) and TFLs (14) while adding 85 total tackles.

Pearce believes the pair play to the other's strengths and weaknesses. He speaks when needed, yet focuses more on leadership by example and setting a practice's intensity.

The two are physically different as well. Coll, a towering 6-foot-3, 235-pound force is a more traditional-style backer while Pearce, at 6-1, 222 pounds, is quicker and has a knack for wreaking havoc in the opposing backfield.

Pearce also highlighted his chemistry and friendship with Coll as a major factor in their success, which has continuously grown since they debuted together in 2019.

"Throughout the years we've just become close. We have similar interests," Pearce said. "I really think that's when the bonds really get stronger when you connect with people outside of football."

Houston Jr., who often lines up as an edge rusher, joined Ball State last year after three seasons at Div. II McKendree University and made an immediate impact: 67 total tackles (sixth on the team), 7.5 TFLs (second), four sacks, four QB hurries.

His leadership and experience shines through his energy. Houston Jr. said that being more comfortable at BSU has helped him become more of a tone-setter in practices, striving to keep everyone's effort at maximum every day. And when he goes into rush-specific drills without Coll and Pearce, he feels more confident being a vocal leader.

Houston Jr. also credited Coll and Pearce for making his and other defenders' jobs easier through their chemistry and communication.

"When you've got good inside backers that you can trust, the D-line can play faster, can play loose ... We kind of don't have a lot of hiccups," Houston Jr. said. "We know the guys behind us are gonna take care of business and can keep us on the right track."

The hope is that the linebackers' experience and familiarity eases the growing pains in Ball State's secondary, which lost all four of its starters from a year ago.

In effort to curb the adjustment, Coll, Pearce and Houston Jr. all said they've put extra work studying film and the playbook, hoping to know not only their job but the tasks of those around them as well.

That way, they can better identify miscues now and not after gameday.

"They know the defense as well as our defensive staff and coach (Tyler) Stockton does," Neu said. "They're really in tune in the meeting room, take great notes and they want to be great … When you have that in the middle, that's kind of the glue holding the front, holding the back together."

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Ball State football training camp: Linebacker trio glue of defense