David Ball (wide receiver)
Encyclopedia
David Ball is a professional wide receiver
for the Erie Explosion of the Ultimate Indoor Football League
. He was signed by the Chicago Bears
as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football
for the New Hampshire Wildcats
, and holds the I-AA record for touchdown receptions.
Ball has also been a member of the New York Jets
, Montreal Alouettes
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers
.
Ball attended Worcester Academy
for a year and was a post-graduate student and a letterman in football
, basketball
, and track
. He was named the school's Athlete of the Year. Also won the NEPSAC Class A title in basketball for Worcester Academy. Played with Colt Brennan at Worcester. He 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 Mississippi Valley State University
, on October 14, 2006 versus the University of Richmond
, and went on to score 7 more 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":
for four years. However, despite his success, Ball was 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.
Ball was released by Chicago on September 1, 2007 in order to reach the NFL's mandatory 53-man roster limit. He was re-signed to the Bears' practice squad on September 2, 2007. Ball was released from the practice squad on September 18, 2007, to make room for P. J. Pope
on the practice squad. He was re-signed to the practice squad on September 21, 2007, and dropped again on September 24, 2007, to make room for Josh Gattis
.
.
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. However, 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.
, two days after his college quarterback, Ricky Santos
, left them. He left the Alouettes on October 22, 2008.
on April 9, 2009. He was released on April 28, 2010.
.
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Erie Explosion of the Ultimate Indoor Football League
Ultimate Indoor Football League
The Ultimate Indoor Football League is a regional professional indoor football league that began its inaugural season on February 18, 2011.-History:...
. He was signed by the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the New Hampshire Wildcats
New Hampshire Wildcats
The New Hampshire Wildcats, or Cats, are the athletic teams of the University of New Hampshire. The wildcat is the school's official mascot, the colors are UNH Blue and white...
, and holds the I-AA record for touchdown receptions.
Ball has also been a member of the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
.
Early years
Ball attended Spaulding High School in Barre, VT and played football there.Ball attended Worcester Academy
Worcester Academy
Worcester Academy is an independent coeducational preparatory school spread over in Worcester, Massachusetts in the United States. The school is divided into a middle school, serving approximately 150 students in grades six to eight, and an upper school, serving approximately 500 students in...
for a year and was a post-graduate student and a letterman in football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. He was named the school's Athlete of the Year. Also won the NEPSAC Class A title in basketball for Worcester Academy. Played with Colt Brennan at Worcester. He set the record for the NEPSAC Class B Тrack and Field Championship in the High Jump, with a jump of 6 feet 9 inches.
College career
Ball broke the Division I-AA record for touchdown receptions, previously set by Jerry RiceJerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
at Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi Valley State University is a historically black university located in Itta Bena, Mississippi, in the United States. MVSU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund....
, on October 14, 2006 versus the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
, and went on to score 7 more 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":
- 2nd Most career receiving yards: 4,655 (Rice had 4,693)
- Most games with at least 100 receiving yards: 27 (Rice had 24)
- Most Career TD Receptions: 58 in 50 games (Rice had 50 in 41 games)
Chicago Bears
Ball was a standout at the University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
for four years. However, despite his success, Ball was undrafted
Undrafted
An undrafted sportsperson or undrafted free agent is specific type of sportsperson who plays, or attempts to play, in a professional sports league without first being selected in a draft....
in the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He signed with the Bears as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
, joining his classmate, Corey Graham
Corey Graham
Corey Graham is a cornerback, who currently plays for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played collegiate football at the University of New Hampshire. The Bears selected Graham in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
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.
Ball was released by Chicago on September 1, 2007 in order to reach the NFL's mandatory 53-man roster limit. He was re-signed to the Bears' practice squad on September 2, 2007. Ball was released from the practice squad on September 18, 2007, to make room for P. J. Pope
P. J. Pope
William Leroy "P. J." Pope, Jr. is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
on the practice squad. He was re-signed to the practice squad on September 21, 2007, and dropped again on September 24, 2007, to make room for Josh Gattis
Josh Gattis
Josh Gattis is an American football safety who is currently a free agent.Gattis was born in Durham, North Carolina. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Wake Forest. He has also played for the Chicago Bears.-External...
.
New York Jets
On November 28, 2007, Ball was signed to the New York Jets practice squad, replacing cornerback Manny CollinsManny Collins
Manny Collins is an American football cornerback for the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the United Football League. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Rutgers.-Early years:...
.
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. However, 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 AlouettesMontreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
, two days after his college quarterback, Ricky Santos
Ricky Santos
Ricky Santos is an American Canadian football quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
, left them. He left the Alouettes on October 22, 2008.
First stint with Tiger-Cats
Ball signed with the Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
on April 9, 2009. 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.Second stint with Tiger-Cats
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 LeagueSouthern Indoor Football League
The Southern Indoor Football League was an indoor football league based in the Southern and Eastern United States. The most recent incarnation of the league was a consolidation of an earlier league of the same name that was formed by Thom Hager along with Dan Blum, Robert Winfrey and Dan Ryan in...
.