Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 3-56@ Ohio State | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 2 tackles |
| Wk 2 | W 41-17vs Stony Brook | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Total | 4 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#9
Justin Thomas
Senior linebacker for Ball State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′0″ · 242 lb · Flossmoor, IL · Homewood-Flossmoor HS
Returning to Ball State for 2026
The numbers
4
tackles · 2026
1 TFL
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 2 tackles, 1 TFL, at Ohio State
His career numbers, season by seasonJustin Thomas
He has spent two seasons in the Ball State linebacker corps. One game to point at: 2 tackles against Stony Brook — Week 2, 2026.
4 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
Ball State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2 seasons under Mike Uremovich — 5-9 over that span.
2025Ball State4-8HC: Mike Uremovich · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2026Ball State1-1HC: Mike Uremovich · Pass-leaning
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 2.0 TKL/g, 0.5 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Mike Uremovich
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Ball State | 4 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Ball State | 7 | 5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 11 | 7 | 2.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 41–17
vs Stony Brook
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Ball State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Ball State
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: +6 net (24 in / 18 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Ball State · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #113 · 2026 recruiting class #113
Background
The Star Press (Aug. 12, 2026): Perseverance, leadership define Justin Thomas' time with Ball State football Ball State Daily News (Aug. 6, 2024): New faces join the Ball State football defense Returning member of Ball State's defensive line rotation, starring at a rush linebacker position where...
The linebacker corps · Ball State
- #42Layton Starks10 tackles · 2025
- #6Cincear Lewis10 tackles · 2025
- #31Jared Badie8 tackles · 2025
- #9Justin Thomas7 tackles · 2025
- #48Sam Feeney6 tackles · 2025
8 more on the roster · Ball State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology