Ball State University Athletics
2026 Football Roster
Jersey Number 0
Derek "DJ" Fields
- Position:
- Defensive Back
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-1 / 192
- Class:
- Fourth Year
- Hometown:
- Saint Charles, Mo.
- Prev School:
- Chaminade HS
- High School:
- Chaminade
Ball State All-Access (Aug. 13, 2026): Cornerbacks Preview
Fields begins his fourth year in the Ball State program, returning with Will Yates as the only returning starters on defense (Fields 8, Yates 7 last season) ... expected to start at the field safety position in 2026 ... "He's got size and he's really athletic," said Uremovich. "He's a dynamic defender." ... all-conference candidate in his junior season ... wore #15 in 2025, but switched to #0 for 2026 to reflect his Christian values in a humble comparison with God: "I'm nothing," he said ... goes by the nickname DJ.
2025 (R-So.): Appeared in 11 games with eight starts ... secondary leader with 34 tackles, tied with Will Yates ... earned first college start at UConn (9/20), and started every game thereafter ... did not play at Toledo (11/22) ... season-high six tackles at Auburn (9/6) and UConn (9/20) ... pass break-ups at Purdue (8/30) and UConn (9/20) ... recorded five stops and a tackle for loss at Western Michigan (10/11).
2024 (R-Fr.): Saw nine games of action, mostly on special teams ... logged eight tackles, including two solos.
2023 (Fr.): Saw no game action and earned a redshirt.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Chaminade College Prep where he played two years of varsity … earned first-team all-conference as a junior and senior … also voted as a team captain in his senior season.
PERSONAL: Son of Derek Fields Sr. and Muffy Fields … favorite athletes are Deion Sanders and Ed Reed … wants to pursue the NFL after college.
Fields begins his fourth year in the Ball State program, returning with Will Yates as the only returning starters on defense (Fields 8, Yates 7 last season) ... expected to start at the field safety position in 2026 ... "He's got size and he's really athletic," said Uremovich. "He's a dynamic defender." ... all-conference candidate in his junior season ... wore #15 in 2025, but switched to #0 for 2026 to reflect his Christian values in a humble comparison with God: "I'm nothing," he said ... goes by the nickname DJ.
2025 (R-So.): Appeared in 11 games with eight starts ... secondary leader with 34 tackles, tied with Will Yates ... earned first college start at UConn (9/20), and started every game thereafter ... did not play at Toledo (11/22) ... season-high six tackles at Auburn (9/6) and UConn (9/20) ... pass break-ups at Purdue (8/30) and UConn (9/20) ... recorded five stops and a tackle for loss at Western Michigan (10/11).
2024 (R-Fr.): Saw nine games of action, mostly on special teams ... logged eight tackles, including two solos.
2023 (Fr.): Saw no game action and earned a redshirt.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Chaminade College Prep where he played two years of varsity … earned first-team all-conference as a junior and senior … also voted as a team captain in his senior season.
PERSONAL: Son of Derek Fields Sr. and Muffy Fields … favorite athletes are Deion Sanders and Ed Reed … wants to pursue the NFL after college.
Monday, August 24
Monday, August 24
Saturday, August 22
Wednesday, August 19
