Montee Ball

A Missouri-native, Ball was a three star running back recruit out of high school, choosing Wisconsin over Missouri, Kansas and Northwestern. He was a back-up his first two seasons in Madison, combining for 1,387 rushing yards as part of a running back committee approach. Showing up in much better physical shape as a junior, Ball became the full-time starter (14 starts) and finished with 1,923 yards and 39 total scores, scoring at least two touchdowns in 13 games last year (NCAA record). He set numerous conference and school records and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, earning First Team All-Big Ten and All-American honors. While the offensive line didn't create the same gaping holes, Ball still averaged 5.1 yards per carry as a senior. He certainly has a nose for the end zone, tying Barry Sanders' NCAA record with 39 touchdowns as a junior and then breaking the NCAA career mark with 22 more last season.

strengths

Does a nice job finding the run lanes and attacking the line of scrimmage with good quickness in tight areas, showing the speed to get around the edge. He has good balance and deceiving run power to slip out of tackles, rarely going down easily. Sharp change-of-direction ability to quickly redirect his momentum and the footwork to sidestep defenders, bursting upfield. Determined and runs with purpose, but also stays patient, following and allowing blocks to develop.

weaknesses

Enters the NFL with a staggering 983 touches in college, raising concerns about how much tread is left on his tires. After 24 receptions and six touchdowns as a receiver in 2011, those numbers dipped to 10 and zero as a senior.

Ranked as the No. 33 running back in the nation and fourth-best player in Missouri (Rivals.com)

No. 46 player in the Midlands Region (SuperPrep)

first-team all-state, all-metro, all-district and all-conference as a senior

213 carries for 2,187 yards and 41 TDs

conference all-academic

Player of the Year (St. Louis American)

Class 5A Player of the Year by the Missouri Football Coaches Association

St. Louis Rams/NFL/College Hall of Fame 200 all-metro

St. Louis Rams Golden Horn Award

player of the year (St. Louis American) as a junior

first-team all-state, all-metro, all-district and all-conference with 358 carries, 3,077 yards and 32 touchdowns

appeared in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd"

St. Louis Cardinals Athlete of the Year as a sophomore

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Sophomore of the Year

second-team all state

first-team all-district and all-conference

297 carries for 1,845 yards and 15 TDs

had 1,113 yards on 127 carries with 19 touchdowns as a freshman

team captain and team MVP as a sophomore, junior and senior

holds all Wentzville school district rushing records with career totals of 995 carries, 8,222 yards, 107 touchdowns and an average of 8.26 yards per carry

three-time all-academic list

two-time letterwinner in basketball

head coach was Craig Collins

Parents are Montee Sr. and Melissa Ball

cousin, Darius Hill, played football at Ball State

enjoys basketball, reading and video games

majoring in sociology