David Ball (wide receiver)

David Ball (born June 6, 1984) is a former American 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).[1]

David Ball
Personal information
Born: (1984-06-06) June 6, 1984
Berlin, Vermont
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:201 lb (91 kg)
Career information
College:New Hampshire
Position:Wide receiver
Undrafted:2007
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Career Arena statistics
Receptions:1
Receiving yards:20
Receiving TDs:0
Tackles:1
Player stats at NFL.com · CFL.ca (archive) · ArenaFan.com

Ball was also a member of the New York Jets, Montreal Alouettes, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and Philadelphia Eagles.

He is now a PE Teacher at Montpelier High School (Vermont) in Montpelier, VT

Early years

Ball attended Spaulding High School in Barre, VT and played football there. 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.

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." (Several of Ball's records have since been broken by Cooper Kupp at Eastern Washington):[2]

  • 3rd 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)
  • 2nd Most Career TD 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.[3]

Ball was released by Chicago on September 1, 2007 in order to reach the NFL's mandatory 53-man roster limit.[4] He was re-signed to the Bears' practice squad on September 2, 2007.[5] Ball was released from the practice squad on September 18, 2007, to make room for P. J. Pope on the practice squad.[6] He was re-signed to the practice squad on September 21, 2007,[7] and dropped again on September 24, 2007, to make room for Josh Gattis.[8]

New York Jets

On November 28, 2007, Ball was signed to the New York Jets practice squad, replacing cornerback Manny Collins.[9]

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.[10] He left the Alouettes on October 22, 2008.[11]

First stint with Tiger-Cats

Ball signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on April 9, 2009.[12][13] 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 League.[14]

Philadelphia Eagles

Ball was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles on July 27, 2013.[15] On August 6, 2013, he was released by the Eagles.[15]

Motivational speaker

David Ball created D.R.E.A.M. Sports Productions LLC to speak to groups about making a dream become reality.[16]

References
  1. "EWU's Kupp sets FCS career record for TD receptions | FOX Sports". FOX Sports. 2016-09-04. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  2. "How Cooper Kupp went from no college offers to several college records". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
  3. Bears sign CB Jimoh
  4. Mayer, Larry (2007-09-01). "Bears place Bazuin on IR, cut 19 to reach roster limit". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007-09-04. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
  5. Mayer, Larry (2007-09-02). "Bears re-sign seven players to practice squad". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007-09-06. Retrieved 2007-09-07.
  6. Mayer, Larry (2007-09-18). "Bears sign Pope to practice squad, release Ball". Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2007-09-18.
  7. Mayer, Larry (2007-09-21). "Dirk Johnson, David Ball back with Bears". Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  8. "Chicago Bears Transactions". Archived from the original on 2007-11-23. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
  9. "Ball signs with Jets". Archived from the original on 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
  10. Vt.'s Ball bound for Montreal
  11. "Transactions". Archived from the original on 2012-07-03. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
  12. Ticats Sign Import Receivers Ball, Currie and Ward
  13. "CFL Offseason Transactions". Archived from the original on 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2017-08-26.
  14. Erie Explosion Add Record Breaking WR David Ball
  15. "Torn ACL For WR Benn; Ball Released". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. August 6, 2013. Archived from the original on August 9, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  16. "Burr and Burton Hosts Speaker David Ball". Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
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