MADISON – More than a decade after he played his final football game at Wisconsin, Montee Ball still holds several prestigious program records.
Ball, whose last college game was the 2013 Rose Bowl, is UW’s leader in all-time touchdowns (83), touchdowns in a season (39), all-time rushing touchdowns (77), rushing touchdowns in a season (33), points in a season (236) and all-time points (500).
His rushing total of 5,140 yards from 2009-12 is the No. 3 mark in program history, behind only Ron Dayne (7,125) and Jonathan Taylor (6,174).
On Monday, Ball was among 77 players on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame’s 2025 class.
The 2025 class will be announced sometime early next year. It will be officially inducted on Dec. 9, 2025, in Las Vegas, during the 67th National Football Foundation annual awards dinner.
Ball was also nominated for the 2024 class.
Montee Ball struggled early at Wisconsin before blossoming
Ball, 33, was not an immediate star when he arrived at UW in 2009 from Timberland High School in Missouri.
He played in only nine games that season and finished with 391 yards and four touchdowns. John Clay led the team in rushing with 1,517 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Ball was buried on the depth chart early in the 2010 season, behind Clay and freshman James White.
After not getting a carry in UW’s 31-18 victory over No. 1 Ohio State on Oct. 16, Ball contemplated asking to switch positions.
However, he stayed at tailback and got his chance when Clay and White suffered injuries the next week at Iowa.
He caught five passes for 41 yards and scored the decisive touchdown on an 8-yard run with 1 minute 6 seconds left in UW’s 31-30 victory.
That trio finished the season with a combined 3,060 rushing yards and 46 rushing touchdowns.
Clay led the way with 1,052 yards and 14 touchdowns. White added 1,012 yards and 14…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/former-wisconsin-tailback-montee-ball-161704376.html
Author : Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Publish date : 2024-06-03 16:17:04
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