#20

Willizhuan Yates

DB · Ball State · Fr. · #20

In transfer portal — destination TBD (from Ball State)
Fr. · Springboro, Ohio → Springboro HS
via ballstatesports.com ↗
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Willizhuan Yates

DB · Ball State · So · #20

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★
#2558 national
CFB
College
Ball State
2024–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Coaching Lineage · 2024–2025

2 coaches
2024
Ball State
2025
Mike Uremovich
Ball State
era →

Coaching transition mid-career: Mike Neu → Mike Uremovich. Worth noting in scheme + development context.

In Portal · 2026

In transfer portal

2025Ball State
DestinationTBD

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2024Ball State3-9HC: Mike Neu · Balanced
2025Ball State4-8HC: Mike Uremovich · Run-heavy, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Ball State32250.00.061--
2024Ball State17122.00.011--
Career49372.00.072--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 3 · 2025

W 34–29

vs New Hampshire

4 TOT  ·  3 SOLO  ·  2 PD

Edged out New Hampshire at home in a shootout.

How he plays

Play style

Erases the deep middle of the field.

CFB Index positional classification

DNA match

Player DNA

Centerfielder

Single-high range who erases the deep middle of the field.

S

His 2025 production profile sits closest to William Hardrick’s 2024 season.

Miami (OH) · 2024

#2

Jalil Tucker

Oregon State · 2025

69%
#3

Isaiah Farris

Boston College · 2025

64%
#4

Jaheim Clarke

Illinois · 2024

64%
#5

A.J. Hampton

Tulane · 2023

63%

Matches William on

Class year
Tackle volume
Weight

Differs from William on

Height (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Thomas Williams's sophomore season at Virginia Tech (2025).

Virginia Tech · 2025

NFL Rd 5
#2

Andrew Volmar

Florida International · 2022

79%
#3

Dezz Ricks

Texas A&M · 2025

76%
#4

Jalil Tucker

Oregon State · 2025

76%
#5

Nicholas Deloach Jr.

Missouri · 2024

75%

Matches Thomas on

Class year
PD rate
TFL rate

Differs from Thomas on

Weight (lower)

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #11057

Final rank
#12655
Avg #12194.3
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #11057 this season.

Background

Intercepted a pass during his first defensive series as a starter in 2024, in Week 6 at Kent State, and started six straight games ... named a starting cornerback opposite fellow freshman Eric McClain last season in Week 6 ... formal first name is Willizhuan but he goes by Will. 2024 (Fr.): Recor...

via ballstatesports.com ↗