MUNCIE — Football stars are not born in spring practice. They’re born on the field, in the biggest moments of the biggest games.
But spring practice can sometimes act as an appetizer — a little taste of what a player can be before the main course arrives in the fall. Ball State football fans got just that at Saturday’s Spring Showcase, a small taste of a potential star on the defensive line.
Nathan Voorhis committed to Ball State out of the transfer portal in December 2024 and signed in January 2025. Where most players put their positions in their social media bios, Voorhis’ X (formerly Twitter) bio instead reads “QB killer.”
The 6-foot-3, 243-pound senior certainly looked like a QB killer on Saturday. Voorhis was the best player on either side of the ball, dominating off the edge and blowing up plays with consistent pressure.
He also impressed as a run defender, getting off blocks and up the field quickly with good pursuit on runs that he didn’t manage to blow up in the backfield (of which there were several).
“I think I’ve gelled with the guys really well, I’ve learned the defense really well,” Voorhis said. “We just all play as a unit, especially on the D-line. We all are really close, so just helps us play off of each other and make plays.”
Voorhis had to adjust to life in Muncie after spending his entire football playing career in the Northeast. He played his high school ball in Pennsylvania and spent his first two collegiate seasons at UConn before transferring to Bryant University in Rhode Island ahead of the 2024 season.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Voorhis said. “I’ve been on the East Coast my whole life. I played at two different schools up in the New England area, so I had no clue what I was getting myself into, coming over to the Midwest. I’ve just had a lot to learn.”
His adjustment — like his pass rush moves — has been fast and effective. In addition to his high level of play, Voorhis also brings an energy and intensity to the team that is necessary for an edge rusher to bring. That intensity was on display Saturday and throughout spring practice, as Voorhis never seemed to operate below 100%.
Voorhis’ approach quickly earned him the respect of his teammates. Quarterback Kiael Kelly described Voorhis as a “havoc” to deal with, while the Cardinals’ offensive linemen have had trouble keeping him contained all spring.
“My boy, Nate… man, me and him go back and forth,” offensive lineman Tristan Cook said. “He’s an awesome guy, me and him have had a lot of good talks. He’ll be a great, fantastic player. He kicks my butt every day. I mean, I give it back to him a little bit, but he definitely has that edge. He’s a dog, for sure.”
Although Voorhis is new to the Cardinals’ roster, he has already established himself as a team leader. Ball State only has three other defensive ends rostered, and none of them have the experience or career production that Voorhis does.
“Obviously, I have a lot of playing experience already, and we have a really young room, so I think it’s kind of my responsibility to bring guys along,” Voorhis said. “You know, it’s hard for just one coach to be able to try to gel the guys. It’s on the older guys in the room to bring everybody together.”
Voorhis credits Mike Uremovich and his coaching staff with fostering a family-like environment that allowed him to adjust to his new surroundings and step into a leadership role right away.
“The coaches all know each other really well, they came from school to school with each other, so it’s kind of just like a family. Coach U has done a great job working with everybody individually,” Voorhis said. “I think this is probably one of the closest units, the closest teams I’ve been a part of. Everybody’s trying to play together. Everybody wants everybody around them to get better.”
As a fourth-year senior who never redshirted, Voorhis is down to his final season of eligibility. Expectations for Ball State likely won’t be high going into the season, but Voorhis isn’t letting those get in the way of his and the rest of the Cardinals’ goal for 2025.
“I expect to win the MAC,” Voorhis said. “That’s the only goal, that’s my last year of eligibility. I want to win and I think everybody around here wants to win, so we have one goal. We want to be in the MAC championship, and we want to win it.”
Contact Cade Hampton via email at cbhampton@muncie.gannett.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CadeHamp10.