Josh Ball

Ball grew up in Fredericksburg, Virginia and played football at Stafford Senior High School. As a senior, he was a starter at left tackle, while receiving All-State and All-conference honors.

He was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and committed to Florida State University to play college football.{{cite web|url=https://www.insidenova.com/sports/josh-ball-in-line-to-become-stafford-high-schools-third-nfl-draft-pick-since-2011/article_d1165268-a10b-11eb-9c01-73fe65277ab1.html|first=Dave|last=Fawcett|title=Josh Ball in line to become Stafford High School's third NFL draft pick since 2011|website=Inside NOVA|date=29 April 2021 }}

As a redshirt freshman in 2017, he was named the starter left tackle in the fifth game against Duke University. He would remain as the starter on the left side for the last 9 contests of the season.

In 2018, he was expected to be the Seminole's starter at right tackle, however, on May 21, 2018, he was suspended by the school for one year, after being accused of dating violence against his former girlfriend.{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2021/05/01/cowboys-select-marshall-ot-josh-ball-at-no-138-in-nfl-draft/|title=Cowboys select Marshall OT Josh Bell at No. 138, who brings a history of off-the-field issues|last=Watkins|first=Calvin|publisher=Dallas Morning News|date=May 1, 2021|access-date=May 1, 2021}} Although he was never charged, he opted to transfer to Butler Community College, where he was named the starter at left tackle.{{cite web|url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/sports/college/fsu/football/2018/12/04/dating-violence-victim-against-josh-balls-return-fsu-football/2207463002/|title='Dating violence victim against Josh Ball's return to FSU football: 'I will not be silenced'|first=Wayne|last=McGahee III|publisher=Tallahassee Democrat|date=December 4, 2018|access-date=May 1, 2021}}

In 2019, he chose to transfer to Marshall University, instead of returning to Florida State University. As a junior, he was a key reserve on the team's offensive line, while playing in 13 games with one start against Western Kentucky University.

As a senior in 2020, the football season was reduced to 10 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He started 8 games at left tackle. He was ejected from the Conference USA Championship Game against the University of Alabama at Birmingham for incurring two personal foul penalties. He did not play in the 2020 Camellia Bowl, opting instead to start preparing for the NFL Draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/josh-ball/32004241-4c50-1948-d003-0543c0165523|title=Josh Ball NFL Draft Profile|website=NFL.com|access-date=May 1, 2021}} He was named first-team All-Conference USA after the season.{{cite web|url=https://herdzone.com/news/2021/5/1/football-ball-taken-in-fourth-round-by-dallas-cowboys.aspx|title=Ball Taken in Fourth Round by Dallas Cowboys|website=Herdzone.com|access-date=May 1, 2021}} He was forced to miss the 2021 Hula Bowl, after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 7 3/8

| weight = 308

| dash = 5.19

| ten split = 1.90

| twenty split = 2.97

| shuttle = 4.70

| cone drill = 7.77

| vertical = 27.5

| broad ft = 8

| broad in = 10

| bench = 28

| arm span = 35

| hand span = 10

| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/josh-ball/32004241-4c50-1948-d003-0543c0165523 |title=Josh Ball Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=May 21, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1017072&DraftYear=2021 |title=2021 NFL Draft Scout Josh Ball College Football Profile |access-date=May 21, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522040212/https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/104877 |title=Josh Ball 2021 NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=May 21, 2023}}

}}

Ball was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (138th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft.{{cite web|title=Streak Ends: Cowboys Go Offense, Draft OT Ball|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/streak-ends-cowboys-go-offense-draft-ot-ball|author=Phillips, Rob|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=May 1, 2021}} If it wasn’t for his problems off the field, he was projected to be a top-70 pick by some experts.{{cite web|title=Is there a future for controversial draft pick Josh Ball in Cowboys' lineups?|url=https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/lists/cowboys-josh-ball-profile/|website=cowboyswire.usatoday.com|date=February 26, 2023}} He signed his rookie contract on May 20, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys-sign-rookies-jabril-cox-26-josh-ball-to-4-year-contracts/ar-AAKd4J0?ocid=uxbndlbing|title=Dallas Cowboys Sign Rookies Jabril Cox & Josh Ball to 4-Year Contracts|website=MSN.com|access-date=May 20, 2021}} Ball was placed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain injury on September 2.{{cite web|title=CeeDee's Return Among Several Roster Moves|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/ceedee-s-return-among-several-roster-moves|author=Phillips, Rob|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=September 2, 2021}}

In 2022, Ball was given a chance to compete with rookie Matt Waletzko for the reserve swing tackle position. He didn't look comfortable in pass protection at tackle, forcing the Cowboys to sign the 40-year-old Jason Peters, after Tyron Smith suffered a torn hamstring in the preseason. In Week 14 against the Houston Texans, Ball replaced an injured Terence Steele (who tore both the ACL and MCL in his left knee). Late in the fourth quarter, Ball gave up a strip sack on quarterback Dak Prescott, which the Cowboys recovered to back them up at their three-yard line. On the next play, he got beat again and the defender hit Prescott's right arm as he was throwing, which led to a second interception, forcing Peters to play at right tackle for the first time since 2006, on the eventual 98-yard game-winning drive. Ball only played 41 snaps in 13 games as a backup during the season.

On August 29, 2023, Ball was placed on injured reserve after suffering a hip injury in the final preseason game.{{cite web|title=Josh Ball to miss time with 'significant' injury|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/josh-ball-to-miss-time-with-significant-injury|author=Walker, Patrik|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=August 28, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Cowboys announce 36 roster moves ahead of regular season|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-announce-36-roster-moves-ahead-of-regular-season|author=Harris, Nick|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=August 29, 2023}}

Ball was released during roster cuts on August 27, 2024, and re-signed with the team's practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=2024 Cowboys Roster: Carl Lawson, Kemon Hall, 4 RBs included in roster trimming|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/2024-cowboys-roster-carl-lawson-kemon-hall-4-rbs-included-in-roster-trimming|author=Walker, Patrik|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=August 27, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Carl Lawson, Dalvin Cook headline list of Dallas Cowboys' practice squad signings|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/carl-lawson-headlines-list-of-dallas-cowboys-practice-squad-signings|author=Walker, Patrik|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=August 28, 2024}}

On December 31, 2024, the New Orleans Saints signed Ball to their active roster.{{Cite web|title=New Orleans Saints announce roster moves|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-roster-moves-josh-ball-tackle-dallas-cowboys-december-31-2024|access-date=January 2, 2025|website=neworleanssaints.com|language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.neworleanssaints.com/team/players-roster/josh-ball/ New Orleans Saints bio]
• [https://herdzone.com/sports/football/roster/josh-ball/5704 Marshall Thundering Herd bio]

{{New Orleans Saints roster navbox}}

{{Cowboys2021DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ball, Josh}}

Category:1998 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football offensive tackles

Category:Butler Grizzlies football players

Category:Dallas Cowboys players

Category:Florida State Seminoles football players

Category:Marshall Thundering Herd football players

Category:Players of American football from Virginia

Category:Sportspeople from Fredericksburg, Virginia

Category:New Orleans Saints players