Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 2 | W 41-17vs Stony Brook | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 1 tackles |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#52
Michael Thacker
Freshman defensive tackle on Ball State's 2026 roster.
6′0″ · 304 lb · New Palestine, IN · New Palestine HS
Returning to Ball State for 2026
The numbers
0
sacks · 2026
1 tackles
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 tackles, vs Stony Brook
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
1 defensive tackle on Ball State's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Ball State in 2025.
Michael Thacker
The receipt on tape: 1 tackles against Stony Brook, Week 2, 2026.
1 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2025
- Signed with Ball State3-star out of New Palestine
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Ball State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
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 1 game: 1.0 TKL/g, 0.0 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 | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 1 | 1 | 0.0 | 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
Defensive tackle · 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
Promising defensive lineman who could see playing time as a redshirt freshman. 2025 (Fr.): Did not play, earned a redshirt. HIGH SCHOOL: Senior leader on defense for the IHSAA Class 4A state champion and undefeated New Palestine Dragons … finished his high school career with over 100 tackles for...
The defensive line · Ball State
- #56Ameir Glenn2.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #7Ben Marsh1.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #39Maverick Gracio1.5 tackles for loss · 2025
- #95Keilan Smith0 tackles for loss · 2025
- #52Michael Thacker1 game · 2026
14 more on the roster · Ball State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology