Josh Ball

Josh Ball (born May 15, 1998) is an American football guard for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State, Butler Community College, and Marshall.

Josh Ball
No. 75 – Dallas Cowboys
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born: (1998-05-15) May 15, 1998
Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Weight:304 lb (138 kg)
Career information
High school:Stafford
(Stafford, Virginia)
College:Florida State (2017)
Butler CC (2018)
Marshall (2019–2020)
NFL Draft:2021 / Round: 4 / Pick: 138
Career history
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2022
Games played:13
Games started:0
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

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.[1]

College career

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.[2] Although he was never charged, he opted to transfer to Butler Community College, where he was named the starter at left tackle.[3]

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.[4] He was named first-team All-Conference USA after the season.[5] He was forced to miss the 2021 Hula Bowl, after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 7+3⁄8 in
(2.02 m)		 308 lb
(140 kg)		 35 in
(0.89 m)		 10 in
(0.25 m)		5.19 s1.90 s2.97 s4.70 s7.77 s27.5 in
(0.70 m)		8 ft 10 in
(2.69 m)		28 reps
All values from Pro Day[6][7][8]

Ball was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (138th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.[9] If it wasn’t for his problems off the field, he was projected to be a top-70 pick by some experts.[10] He signed his rookie contract on May 20, 2021.[11] He was placed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain injury on September 2, 2021.[12]

In 2022, he 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 (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.[13][14]

References
  1. Fawcett, Dave (29 April 2021). "Josh Ball in line to become Stafford High School's third NFL draft pick since 2011". Inside NOVA.
  2. Watkins, Calvin (May 1, 2021). "Cowboys select Marshall OT Josh Bell at No. 138, who brings a history of off-the-field issues". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  3. McGahee III, Wayne (December 4, 2018). "'Dating violence victim against Josh Ball's return to FSU football: 'I will not be silenced'". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  4. "Josh Ball NFL Draft Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  5. "Ball Taken in Fourth Round by Dallas Cowboys". Herdzone.com. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  6. "Josh Ball Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  7. "2021 NFL Draft Scout Josh Ball College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  8. "Josh Ball 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  9. Phillips, Rob (May 1, 2021). "Streak Ends: Cowboys Go Offense, Draft OT Ball". DallasCowboys.com.
  10. "Is there a future for controversial draft pick Josh Ball in Cowboys' lineups?". cowboyswire.usatoday.com. February 26, 2023.
  11. "Dallas Cowboys Sign Rookies Jabril Cox & Josh Ball to 4-Year Contracts". MSN.com. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  12. Phillips, Rob (September 2, 2021). "CeeDee's Return Among Several Roster Moves". DallasCowboys.com.
  13. Walker, Patrik (August 28, 2023). "Josh Ball to miss time with 'significant' injury". DallasCowboys.com.
  14. Harris, Nick (August 29, 2023). "Cowboys announce 36 roster moves ahead of regular season". DallasCowboys.com.
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