Being based in a basketball-crazed state can be tough for a football program, but the Cardinals have persevered through it, with 18 players over the program’s history being selected to the NFL Draft over the decades, and 35 players overall in the league since 1947.
Running back Timmy Brown, drafted initially by Green Bay before establishing himself as an Eagles legend over eight seasons, was Ball State’s first-ever NFL Draft selection in 1959, and would go on to finish his career with three Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl ring with the Baltimore Colts in his sunset season.