Eric McClain

Aggressive, hard-hitting corner emerged as a starter for the Cardinals in Week 6 last season at Kent State, and started the season's last seven games ... should challenge for a starting role again in his sophomore campaign ... wore a No. 15 jersey as a freshman. 2024 (Fr.): Played in eight games with seven starts, tallying 24 tackles overall (18 solo) ... did not play in the Cardinals' first four games, then made his college debut against Western Michigan (Oct. 5) ... earned his first college start at Kent State (Oct. 12), and started each game thereafter ... season-high five tackles at Buffalo (Nov. 12). HIGH SCHOOL: McClain was a two-way star at Glenbard East High School under coach John Walters, where he helped the Rams to a conference title and an appearance in the Illinois state quarterfinals … he lettered the past two seasons while leading his team to a 10-2 mark as a senior, 8-2 as a junior … earning all-state honors as a senior and all-conference merit as a junior, he was his team’s defensive player of the year in 2023 … he finished with 112 tackles, a pair of sacks and nine pass break-ups in his senior season … McClain starred in track as well, appearing in the 2022 state track meet in the long jump … he chose Ball State over offers from Eastern Illinois and Illinois State … he hopes to major in business management. PERSONAL: Son of Shakyra McClain … has one sibling, Zakenya … hobbies include drawing, cutting hair and working out … he enjoys old school r&b … a favorite movie is “Friday” … he hopes to start his own business after college.