David Ball (wide receiver)
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1984)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = David Ball
| image =
| caption =
| number = 18
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1984|6|6}}
| birth_place = Berlin, Vermont, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 201
| high_school = Spaulding (Barre, Vermont)
| college = New Hampshire
| undraftedyear = 2007
| pastteams =
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2007}})*
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2007}})
- Montreal Alouettes ({{CFL Year|2008}})*
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats ({{CFL Year|2009}}−{{CFL Year|2010}})
- Winnipeg Blue Bombers ({{CFL Year|2010}})*
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats ({{CFL Year|2010}})*
- Pittsburgh Power ({{AFL Year|2011}})
- Erie Explosion (2011)
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2013}})*
| aflstatlabel1 = Receptions
| aflstatvalue1 = 1
| aflstatlabel2 = Receiving yards
| aflstatvalue2 = 20
| aflstatlabel3 = Total tackles
| aflstatvalue3 = 1
| cfl-archive = https://web.archive.org/web/20090801065002/http://www.cfl.ca/roster/show/id/2009
| afl = 11572
}}
David Ball (born June 6, 1984) is an American former professional football wide receiver. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football for the New Hampshire Wildcats, and held the I-AA record for touchdown receptions until 2016 (broken by Cooper Kupp).{{Cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/ewu-s-kupp-sets-fcs-career-record-for-td-receptions-090316|title=EWU's Kupp sets FCS career record for TD receptions {{!}} FOX Sports|date=2016-09-04|work=FOX Sports|access-date=2017-09-11|language=en-US}}
Ball was also a member of the New York Jets, Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Pittsburgh Power, Erie Explosion, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Early life
Ball attended Spaulding High School in Barre, VT and played football there.
Ball attended Worcester Academy for a year, where he played with future NFL quarterback Colt Brennan, and was a post-graduate student and a letterman in football, basketball, and track. He was named the school's Athlete of the Year, won the NEPSAC Class A title in basketball, and set the record for the NEPSAC Class B Тrack and Field Championship in the High Jump, with a jump of 6 feet 9 inches at Worcester.
College career
Ball broke the Division I-AA record for touchdown receptions, previously set by Jerry Rice at Mississippi Valley State University, on October 14, 2006, versus the University of Richmond, and went on to score seven more touchdowns for a new record of 58 touchdowns. He also approached two other I-AA receiving records set by Rice, and has been nicknamed "White Rice."{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} (Several of Ball's records have since been broken by Cooper Kupp at Eastern Washington):{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/126632/how-cooper-kupp-went-from-no-college-offers-to-several-college-records|title=How Cooper Kupp went from no college offers to several college records|work=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-09-11}}
- Third most career receiving yards: 4,655 (Rice had 4,693 | Kupp - 6,464)
- Most games with at least 100 receiving yards: 27 (Rice had 24 | Kupp - 31)
- Second most career touchdown receptions: 58 in 50 games (Rice had 50 in 41 games | Kupp has since surpassed Ball with 73 in 52 games)
Professional career
=Chicago Bears=
Although a standout at the University of New Hampshire, Ball was cited by NFL scouts as not possessing an NFL-caliber combination of size and speed, as well as facing poor competition at the D-IAA level. He subsequently went undrafted in the 2007 NFL draft. He signed with the Bears as a free agent, joining his classmate, Corey Graham who was drafted by Chicago in the fifth round.
During 2007 pre-season play, Ball had 6 receptions for a total gain of 64 yards.[http://www.abc15.com/sports/story.aspx?content_id=4da288f6-a38e-4596-b00e-c85e44dabd2f Bears sign CB Jimoh]{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Ball was released by Chicago on September 1, 2007, in order to reach the NFL's mandatory 53-man roster limit.{{cite news |first=Larry |last=Mayer |title=Bears place Bazuin on IR, cut 19 to reach roster limit |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?STORY_ID=3770 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=2007-09-01 |accessdate=2007-09-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904210859/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=3770 |archive-date=2007-09-04 |url-status=dead }} He was re-signed to the Bears' practice squad on September 2, 2007.{{cite news |first=Larry |last=Mayer |title=Bears re-sign seven players to practice squad |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=3773 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=2007-09-02 |accessdate=2007-09-07 |archive-date=2007-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070906115031/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=3773 |url-status=dead }} Ball was released from the practice squad on September 18, 2007, to make room for P. J. Pope on the practice squad.{{cite news |first=Larry |last=Mayer |title=Bears sign Pope to practice squad, release Ball |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?STORY_ID=3844 |date=2007-09-18 |accessdate=2007-09-18 |archive-date=2012-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324210408/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?STORY_ID=3844 |url-status=dead }} He was re-signed to the practice squad on September 21, 2007,{{cite news |first=Larry |last=Mayer |title=Dirk Johnson, David Ball back with Bears |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?STORY_ID=3856 |date=2007-09-21 |accessdate=2007-10-05 |archive-date=2012-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324210413/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?STORY_ID=3856 |url-status=dead }} and dropped again on September 24, 2007, to make room for Josh Gattis.{{Cite web |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/teamTransactions?categoryId=67040&stype=date&dir=a |title=Chicago Bears Transactions |access-date=2007-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123211448/http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/teamTransactions?categoryId=67040 |archive-date=2007-11-23 |url-status=dead }}
=New York Jets=
On November 28, 2007, Ball was signed to the New York Jets practice squad, replacing cornerback Manny Collins.{{Cite web |url=http://media.www.tnhonline.com/media/storage/paper674/news/2007/11/30/Sports/Ball-Signs.With.Jets-3124346.shtml |title=Ball signs with Jets |access-date=2007-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820093508/http://media.www.tnhonline.com/media/storage/paper674/news/2007/11/30/Sports/Ball-Signs.With.Jets-3124346.shtml |archive-date=2008-08-20 |url-status=dead }}
For their December 30, 2007 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the New York Jets activated Ball to their game roster for the first time in Ball's career, but he did not appear in the game.
In a pre-season game on August 28, 2008, he had two receptions for a total of 15 yards including a touchdown, with the Jets winning over Philadelphia, 27–20.
On August 31, Ball was cut by the Jets in the final preseason cuts.
=Montreal Alouettes=
On September 10, 2008, David Ball joined the Montreal Alouettes, two days after his college quarterback, Ricky Santos, left them.[http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080910/SPORTS/809100312/1002/RSS03 Vt.'s Ball bound for Montreal]{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He left the Alouettes on October 22, 2008.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cfl.ca/page/transactions_october_2008 |title=Transactions |access-date=2017-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703043309/http://www.cfl.ca/page/transactions_october_2008 |archive-date=2012-07-03 |url-status=dead }}
=Hamilton Tiger-Cats (first stint)=
Ball signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on April 9, 2009.[https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=274402 Ticats Sign Import Receivers Ball, Currie and Ward]{{Cite web |url=https://www.cfl.ca/page/transactions_offseason_200809 |title=CFL Offseason Transactions |access-date=2017-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612082453/http://www.cfl.ca/page/transactions_offseason_200809 |archive-date=2012-06-12 |url-status=dead }} He was released on April 28, 2010.
=Winnipeg Blue Bombers=
The Blue Bombers signed Ball on June 7, 2010. He was released on June 30, 2010.
=Hamilton Tiger-Cats (second stint)=
The Tiger-Cats re-signed Ball on August 11, 2010, to a practice roster agreement.
=Pittsburgh Power=
The Power signed Ball on November 22, 2010. He was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list on March 2, 2011. He was activated on March 24, 2011.
=Erie Explosion=
After being cut by the Power, Ball finished the 2011 indoor season with the Erie Explosion of the Southern Indoor Football League.[http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4183828/ Erie Explosion Add Record Breaking WR David Ball]
=Philadelphia Eagles=
Ball was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles on July 27, 2013.{{cite web |url=http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/article-1/Torn-ACL-For-WR-Benn-Ball-Released/b2219e54-e7a0-4cb3-ac42-2d56cf38063b |title=Torn ACL For WR Benn; Ball Released |date=August 6, 2013 |website=PhiladelphiaEagles.com |accessdate=August 8, 2013 |archive-date=August 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809012514/http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/article-1/Torn-ACL-For-WR-Benn-Ball-Released/b2219e54-e7a0-4cb3-ac42-2d56cf38063b |url-status=dead }} On August 6, 2013, he was released by the Eagles.
Motivational speaker
David Ball created D.R.E.A.M. Sports Productions LLC to speak to groups about making a dream become reality.{{Cite web |url=http://www.manchesterjournal.com/sports/ci_11895876 |title=Burr and Burton Hosts Speaker David Ball |access-date=2009-03-14 |archive-date=2011-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714025157/http://www.manchesterjournal.com/sports/ci_11895876 |url-status=dead }}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110714175144/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/WR-Ball-Signed-to-Active-Roster/4a3d651e-79f7-11df-ba56-acc8e62813e9 New York Jets bio]
- [https://archive.today/20130115132302/http://www.ticats.ca/roster/show/id/2009 Hamilton Tiger-Cats bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ball, David}}
Category:People from Berlin, Vermont
Category:Players of American football from Vermont
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:New Hampshire Wildcats football players
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:New York Jets players
Category:Montreal Alouettes players
Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats players
Category:Pittsburgh Power players
Category:Erie Explosion players