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{{Short description|American football player (born 1984)}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}
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{{Infobox NFL player
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{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
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|name=Reggie Ball
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{{Infobox NFL biography
|image=
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| name = Reggie Ball
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|image_size=200
| image =
|caption=Reggie Ball in a game vs. Georgia in 2006.
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| image_size =
|number=--
| caption = Ball in 2024
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|position=[[Quarterback]]
| number = 12
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|birth_date={{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1984|10|6}}
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| position = [[Quarterback]]
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|birth_place=[[Stone Mountain, Georgia]]
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1984|10|6}}
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|height_ft=5
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| birth_place = [[Stone Mountain, Georgia]], U.S.
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|height_in=11
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| height_ft = 5
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|weight_lbs=195
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| height_in = 11
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|high_school=[[Stephenson High School|Stephenson]]<br/>([[Stone Mountain, Georgia]])
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| weight_lbs = 195
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|college=[[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]]
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| high_school = [[Stephenson High School|Stephenson]]<br/>(Stone Mountain, Georgia)
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|undraftedyear=2007
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| college = [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]]
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|pastteams=
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| undraftedyear = 2007
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| pastteams =
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|2007}}–{{NFL Year|2008}})
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|2007}}–{{NFL Year|2008}})
* [[Bricktown Brawlers]] ({{IFL Year|2011}})
* [[Bricktown Brawlers]] ({{IFL Year|2011}})
|highlights=
| highlights =
* [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] Rookie of the Year (2003)
* [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] Rookie of the Year (2003)
* [[Champs Sports Bowl]] MVP (2004)
* [[Champs Sports Bowl]] MVP (2004)
|nfl=BAL581914
}}
}}
'''Reginald Lewis Ball''' (born October 6, 1984) is a former [[American football]] [[quarterback]]. He was originally signed by the [[Detroit Lions]] as an [[undrafted free agent]] in 2007. He played [[college football]] at [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]].
'''Reginald Lewis Ball''' (born October 6, 1984) is a former [[American football]] [[quarterback]]. He was originally signed by the [[Detroit Lions]] as an [[undrafted free agent]] in 2007. He played [[college football]] at [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football|Georgia Tech]].


==Early years==
==Early life==
Ball played his high school football at [[Stephenson High School]] in [[Stone Mountain, Georgia]]. As a senior, he passed for over 2,000 yards with 19 [[touchdown]]s and just two [[interception]]s. He was named to the Super Southern 100 and Top 50 in Georgia by the [[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]. Also, he was rated the number 133 player in Georgia by BorderWars.com and ranked among the nation's top 15 all-purpose quarterbacks by [[Rivals.com]].<ref name="profile">{{cite web|url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ball_reggie00.html|title=Georgia Tech profile|publisher=RamblinWreck.com|accessdate=March 4, 2007}}</ref>
Ball played his high school football at [[Stephenson High School]] in [[Stone Mountain, Georgia]]. As a senior, he passed for over 2,000 yards with 19 [[touchdown]]s and just two [[interception]]s. He was named to the Super Southern 100 and Top 50 in Georgia by the [[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]. Also, he was rated the number 133 player in Georgia by BorderWars.com and ranked among the nation's top 15 all-purpose quarterbacks by [[Rivals.com]].<ref name="profile">{{Cite web |title=Georgia Tech profile |url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ball_reggie00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807054045/http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ball_reggie00.html |archive-date=August 7, 2011 |access-date=March 4, 2007 |publisher=RamblinWreck.com}}</ref>


==College career==
==College career==
Ball was the first [[true freshman]] to start at [[quarterback]] for Georgia Tech since Stu Rogers in 1980.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/acc/2003-08-25-gatech-ball_x.htm|title=Freshman Quarterback To Start For Georgia Tech|work=[[USA Today]]|date=August 25, 2003|accessdate=March 4, 2007}}</ref> Ball's first start was in the Yellow Jackets' opening game against [[Brigham Young University|BYU]] in 2003. Since then, he missed just one game and amassed 8,128 passing yards, 57 touchdown passes and 9,579 total yards of offense in his career, but also threw 55 interceptions. Ball's passing yards total is third on Georgia Tech's career list, behind [[Joe Hamilton (football player)|Joe Hamilton]] and [[Shawn Jones (American football)|Shawn Jones]], and his touchdown pass and total offense totals are second behind Hamilton.<ref name="profile"/> Ball accumulated 11 rushing [[touchdown]]s and also rushed for 1,451 yards in his career, good for 18th on the Yellow Jacket leaderboard and second among Tech quarterbacks in history (Hamilton). He wore jersey number 1.
Ball was the first [[true freshman]] to start at [[quarterback]] for Georgia Tech since Stu Rogers in 1980.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 25, 2003 |title=Freshman Quarterback To Start For Georgia Tech |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/acc/2003-08-25-gatech-ball_x.htm |access-date=March 4, 2007}}</ref> Ball's first start was in the Yellow Jackets' opening game against [[Brigham Young University|BYU]] in 2003. Since then, he missed just one game and amassed 8,128 passing yards, 57 touchdown passes and 9,579 total yards of offense in his career, but also threw 55 interceptions. Ball's passing yards total is third on Georgia Tech's career list, behind [[Joe Hamilton (football player)|Joe Hamilton]] and [[Shawn Jones (American football)|Shawn Jones]], and his touchdown pass and total offense totals are second behind Hamilton.<ref name="profile" /> Ball accumulated 11 rushing [[touchdown]]s and also rushed for 1,451 yards in his career, good for 18th on the Yellow Jacket leaderboard and second among Tech quarterbacks in history (Hamilton). He wore jersey number 1.


During his career, Ball was named ACC Rookie of the Year in 2003<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nique.net/issues/2004-09-10/sports/7|title=Faces in the Crowd: "Rookie of the Year"|work=[[The Technique]]|date=September 10, 2004|accessdate=May 17, 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929135652/http://nique.net/issues/2004-09-10/sports/7 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = September 29, 2007}}
During his career, Ball was named ACC Rookie of the Year in 2003<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 10, 2004 |title=Faces in the Crowd: "Rookie of the Year" |work=[[The Technique]] |url=http://nique.net/issues/2004-09-10/sports/7 |access-date=May 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929135652/http://nique.net/issues/2004-09-10/sports/7 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=September 29, 2007}}
</ref> and was named the MVP of the [[Champs Sports Bowl]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bowls/2004-12-21-champs-bowl-ga-tech-syracuse_x.htm?csp=34| title=It's All Georgia Tech In Champs Sports Bowl|work=[[USA Today]]|date=December 21, 2004|accessdate=March 4, 2007 | first=Mark | last=Long}}</ref> He compiled a record of 29-20 as the starting quarterback for the Yellow Jackets.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ball_reggie00.html|title= Reggie Ball |author= |date= |work= GT RamblinWreck.com |publisher= |accessdate=August 3, 2012}}</ref> Ball, whose athleticism was well noted as CouchScout.com listed him at 4.46 in the 40-yard dash, led Georgia Tech to three 7-win seasons in a row. He capped off his career with a 9-5 mark in 2006 that included a #25 ranking nationally (heading into the [[Gator Bowl|Toyota Gator Bowl]]) and an ACC Coastal Division Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings/_/year/2006/week/15|title= 2006 NCAA Football Rankings - Week 15 |author= |date= December 3, 2006 |work= ESPN.com |publisher= |accessdate=August 1, 2012}}</ref> In 2005, Georgia Tech was trailing UGA 7-14 with 1st & 10 at the UGA 11. Ball threw an interception that helped secure a victory for the Bulldogs. Thus stretching the streak to five games over their in state rivals.
</ref> and was named the MVP of the [[Champs Sports Bowl]] in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Long |first=Mark |date=December 21, 2004 |title=It's All Georgia Tech In Champs Sports Bowl |work=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bowls/2004-12-21-champs-bowl-ga-tech-syracuse_x.htm?csp=34 |access-date=March 4, 2007}}</ref> He compiled a record of 29–20 as the starting quarterback for the Yellow Jackets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reggie Ball |url=http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ball_reggie00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722010700/http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ball_reggie00.html |archive-date=July 22, 2012 |access-date=August 3, 2012 |website=GT RamblinWreck.com}}</ref> Ball, whose athleticism was well noted as CouchScout.com listed him at 4.46 in the 40-yard dash, led Georgia Tech to three 7-win seasons in a row. He capped off his career with a 9–5 mark in 2006 that included a #25 ranking nationally (heading into the [[Gator Bowl|Toyota Gator Bowl]]) and an ACC Coastal Division Championship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 3, 2006 |title=2006 NCAA Football Rankings – Week 15 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/rankings/_/year/2006/week/15 |access-date=August 1, 2012 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> In 2005, Georgia Tech was trailing UGA 14–7 with 1st & 10 at the UGA 11. Ball threw an interception that helped secure a victory for the Bulldogs, who thus stretched their winning streak over their in-state rivals to five games.


Ball started his senior season for the Yellow Jackets by leading the team to a sterling 9-2 record, but his collegiate career ended on a negative note on December 2, 2006, with a 9-6 loss in the [[ACC Championship Game]] to [[Wake Forest University|Wake Forest]], just one week after Ball's Georgia Tech team lost to [[Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate|in-state rival]] UGA for a sixth straight year. He completed less than 30% (15-51) of his passes in these last two games, threw four interceptions, and gave up a crucial [[fumble]] in the loss to Georgia.<ref name="espn">{{cite web| url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=145781| title=Profile and Statistics|publisher=ESPN.com|accessdate=March 4, 2007}}</ref> Although Georgia Tech earned a spot to play West Virginia in the Gator Bowl that year, Ball's controversial career abruptly ended when he was named academically ineligible, and backup quarterback [[Taylor Bennett]] was named the starter.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls06/news/story?id=2704246|title=Georgia Tech's Ball, Scott ruled out of Gator Bowl|work=ESPN.com|date=December 20, 2007|accessdate=March 4, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9883159 |archive-url=https://archive.is/20120912041343/http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9883159 |dead-url=yes |archive-date=September 12, 2012 |title=Jackets lose starting QB Ball, corner Scott for Gator Bowl |work=CBS SportsLine.com |date=December 20, 2006 |accessdate=May 22, 2007 }}</ref> He left Georgia Tech after this season having completed only 44% of his passes, the worst mark of his four-year career, and not receiving an academic degree.<ref name="espn"/>
Ball started his senior season for the Yellow Jackets by leading the team to a sterling 9–2 record, but his collegiate career ended on a negative note on December 2, 2006, with a 9–6 loss in the [[ACC Championship Game]] to [[Wake Forest University|Wake Forest]], just one week after Ball's Georgia Tech team lost to [[Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate|in-state rival]] UGA for a sixth straight year. He completed less than 30% (15–51) of his passes in these last two games, threw four interceptions, and gave up a crucial [[fumble]] in the loss to Georgia.<ref name="espn">{{Cite web |title=Profile and Statistics |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/10970/reggie-ball |access-date=March 4, 2007 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> Although Georgia Tech earned a spot to play West Virginia in the Gator Bowl that year, Ball's controversial career abruptly ended when he was named academically ineligible, and backup quarterback [[Taylor Bennett (American football)|Taylor Bennett]] was named the starter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 20, 2007 |title=Georgia Tech's Ball, Scott ruled out of Gator Bowl |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/bowls06/news/story?id=2704246 |access-date=March 4, 2007 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=December 20, 2006 |title=Jackets lose starting QB Ball, corner Scott for Gator Bowl |work=CBS SportsLine.com |url=http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9883159 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912041343/http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9883159 |archive-date=September 12, 2012}}</ref> He left Georgia Tech after this season having completed only 44% of his passes, the worst mark of his four-year career, and not receiving an academic degree.<ref name="espn" />


===Legacy===
===Legacy===
Ball's college career will forever be marred with inconsistency. The teams he led "played to the level of the opponent," producing several impressive upsets while losing "easier" games.<ref>{{cite news|first=Andy|last=Holt|url=http://nique.net/issues/2004-10-15/sports/6|title=Beyond the White and Gold: Too much talent? Dilemma of a quarterback controversy|work=[[The Technique]]|date=October 15, 2004|accessdate=May 17, 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929140128/http://nique.net/issues/2004-10-15/sports/6 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = September 29, 2007}}</ref> Although he won several big games for the Jackets including two wins against ranked [[Auburn University]] teams and a win against #3 [[University of Miami]] on the road in 2005, Ball-led Yellow Jacket teams were 0-4 against the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech's [[Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate|primary rival]]. Ball's play in these games (including, in 2004, a drive-ending intentional incomplete pass out of bounds on 4th down and earning him the nickname "5th Down Reggie"){{Citation needed|date=November 2014}} will always be in question to Georgia Tech fans. He finished his career by losing to UGA, losing the ACC Championship game to Wake Forest, and being declared academically ineligible for the 2007 Gator Bowl, which would have been his final game. College football writer Pete Fiutak, contributor to the website [[Collegefootballnews.com]], challenged readers to name a more ineffective four-year college football starter than Ball.<ref>{{cite web|first=Pete|last=Fiutak|url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/603148.html|title=ASK CFN - The Most Ineffective QB Ever?|work=College Football News|date=December 21, 2006|accessdate=March 4, 2007|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070326053545/http://cfn.scout.com/2/603148.html|archivedate=March 26, 2007|df=}}</ref> Brett Jensen compared his career to that of the [[Clemson Tigers]]' [[Charlie Whitehurst]]; both had impressive freshman seasons, but they were unable to live up to the expectations placed upon them.<ref>{{cite news|first=Brett|last=Jensen|url=http://clemson.scout.com/2/581142.html|title=The Trials and Tribulations of Reggie Ball|work=CUTigers.com|date=October 19, 2006|accessdate=May 22, 2007|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101211608/http://clemson.scout.com/2/581142.html|archivedate=November 1, 2006|df=}}</ref>
Ball's college career will forever be marred with inconsistency. The teams he led "played to the level of the opponent," producing several impressive upsets while losing "easier" games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Holt |first=Andy |date=October 15, 2004 |title=Beyond the White and Gold: Too much talent? Dilemma of a quarterback controversy |work=[[The Technique]] |url=http://nique.net/issues/2004-10-15/sports/6 |access-date=May 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929140128/http://nique.net/issues/2004-10-15/sports/6 <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=September 29, 2007}}</ref> Although he won several big games for the Jackets including two wins against ranked [[Auburn University]] teams and a win against #3 [[University of Miami]] on the road in 2005, Ball-led Yellow Jacket teams were 0–4 against the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech's [[Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate|primary rival]]. Ball's play in these games (including, in 2004, a drive-ending intentional incomplete pass out of bounds on 4th down and earning him the nickname "5th Down Reggie"){{Citation needed|date=November 2014}} will always be in question to Georgia Tech fans. He finished his career by losing to UGA, losing the ACC Championship game to Wake Forest, and being declared academically ineligible for the 2007 Gator Bowl, which would have been his final game. College football writer Pete Fiutak, contributor to the website [[Collegefootballnews.com]], challenged readers to name a more ineffective four-year college football starter than Ball.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fiutak |first=Pete |date=December 21, 2006 |title=ASK CFN – The Most Ineffective QB Ever? |url=http://cfn.scout.com/2/603148.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070326053545/http://cfn.scout.com/2/603148.html |archive-date=March 26, 2007 |access-date=March 4, 2007 |website=College Football News}}</ref> Brett Jensen compared his career to that of the [[Clemson Tigers]]' [[Charlie Whitehurst]]; both had impressive freshman seasons, but they were unable to live up to the expectations placed upon them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jensen |first=Brett |date=October 19, 2006 |title=The Trials and Tribulations of Reggie Ball |work=CUTigers.com |url=http://clemson.scout.com/2/581142.html |url-status=dead |access-date=May 22, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101211608/http://clemson.scout.com/2/581142.html |archive-date=November 1, 2006}}</ref>


===Statistics===
===Statistics===
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===Detroit Lions===
===Detroit Lions===
At the [[NFL Combine]], Ball tried out as a wide receiver, attempting to follow former college quarterbacks [[Antwaan Randle El]] and [[Reggie McNeal]]. He ran a 4.8 second 40-yard dash,<ref name="dash">{{cite web|url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/gamebygame.php?pyid=60&field=2004%20Game%20Analysis |title=Reggie Ball 2007 NFL Draft Scout Profile |publisher=NFLDraftScout.com |accessdate=March 4, 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930161233/http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/gamebygame.php?pyid=60&field=2004%20Game%20Analysis |archivedate=September 30, 2007 |df= }}</ref> and had somewhat inconsistent pass coverage.<ref name="combine">{{cite news|first=D. Orlando|last=Ledbetter|url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/printedition/2007/02/26/sptcombinenot0226a.html|title=NFL COMBINE NOTEBOOK: Tech's Ball shows stuff as a receiver|work=[[Atlanta Journal Constitution]]|date=February 26, 2007|accessdate=March 4, 2007}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Ball was not selected during the [[2007 NFL Draft]], but was signed by the [[Detroit Lions]], auditioning for a role as a wide receiver/kick returner.<ref>{{cite news|first=Matt|last=Winkeljohn|url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/gatech/stories/2007/04/29/0430techdraft.html|title=Ball to work out for Lions as receiver|work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]|date=April 30, 2007|accessdate=April 30, 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070502012948/http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/gatech/stories/2007/04/29/0430techdraft.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = May 2, 2007}}</ref> He did not make the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/teams/detroitlions/roster?team=DET|title=Detroit Lions Roster|publisher=NFL.com|accessdate=November 13, 2007}}</ref>
At the [[NFL Combine]], Ball tried out as a wide receiver, attempting to follow former college quarterbacks [[Antwaan Randle El]] and [[Reggie McNeal]]. He ran a 4.8 second 40-yard dash,<ref name="dash">{{Cite web |title=Reggie Ball 2007 NFL Draft Scout Profile |url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/gamebygame.php?pyid=60&field=2004%20Game%20Analysis |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930161233/http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/gamebygame.php?pyid=60&field=2004%20Game%20Analysis |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=March 4, 2007 |publisher=NFLDraftScout.com}}</ref> and had somewhat inconsistent pass coverage.<ref name="combine">{{Cite news |last=Ledbetter |first=D. Orlando |date=February 26, 2007 |title=NFL COMBINE NOTEBOOK: Tech's Ball shows stuff as a receiver |work=[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/printedition/2007/02/26/sptcombinenot0226a.html |access-date=March 4, 2007}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Ball was not selected during the [[2007 NFL draft]], but was signed by the [[Detroit Lions]], auditioning for a role as a wide receiver/kick returner.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Winkeljohn |first=Matt |date=April 30, 2007 |title=Ball to work out for Lions as receiver |work=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/gatech/stories/2007/04/29/0430techdraft.html |access-date=April 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502012948/http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/gatech/stories/2007/04/29/0430techdraft.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=May 2, 2007}}</ref> He did not make the team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Detroit Lions Roster |url=http://www.nfl.com/teams/detroitlions/roster?team=DET |access-date=November 13, 2007 |website=NFL.com}}</ref>


On December 5, he was re-signed to the [[practice squad]] when [[defensive back]] [[LaMarcus Hicks]] was placed on injured reserve and wide receiver [[Brandon Middleton]] was promoted to the active roster.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} On July 27, 2008, he was placed on injured reserve.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}
On December 5, he was re-signed to the [[practice squad]] when [[defensive back]] [[LaMarcus Hicks]] was placed on injured reserve and wide receiver [[Brandon Middleton]] was promoted to the active roster.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}} On July 27, 2008, he was placed on injured reserve.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}


Ball was released by the Lions on March 18, 2009.<ref>[http://www.detroitlions.com/section_display.cfm?section_id=23&top=1&level=3 DetroitLions.com<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822000208/http://www.detroitlions.com/section_display.cfm?section_id=23&top=1&level=3 |date=August 22, 2008 }}</ref>
Ball was released by the Lions on March 18, 2009.<ref name="r404">{{cite web | title=Reggie Ball - NFL Transactions | website=Pro Football Archives | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/b/ball00670.html | access-date=2024-12-21}}</ref>


===Indoor Football League===
===Indoor Football League===
Ball signed to play for the now-defunct [[Bricktown Brawlers]] of the [[Indoor Football League]] in 2011.
Ball signed to play for the now-defunct [[Bricktown Brawlers]] of the [[Indoor Football League]] in 2011.<ref name="l180">{{cite web | title=Former PC North QB Kewan Dewberry sinks Bricktown Brawlers | website=The Oklahoman | date=2011-03-06 | url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/nfl/2011/03/06/former-pc-north-qb-kewan-dewberry-sinks-bricktown-brawlers/61179535007/ | access-date=2024-12-04}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets starting quarterbacks]]
* [[List of Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets starting quarterbacks]]
* [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets]]
* [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football statistical leaders]]


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ball_reggie00.html Georgia Tech profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110807054045/http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ball_reggie00.html Georgia Tech profile]


{{Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback navbox}}
{{Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback navbox}}
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[[Category:Bricktown Brawlers players]]
[[Category:Bricktown Brawlers players]]
[[Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football players]]
[[Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football players]]
[[Category:People from Stone Mountain, Georgia]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Stone Mountain, Georgia]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Players of American football from DeKalb County, Georgia]]

Latest revision as of 23:38, 21 December 2024

Reggie Ball
No. 12
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1984-10-06) October 6, 1984 (age 40)
Stone Mountain, Georgia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Stephenson
(Stone Mountain, Georgia)
College:Georgia Tech
Undrafted:2007
Career history
Career highlights and awards

Reginald Lewis Ball (born October 6, 1984) is a former American football quarterback. He was originally signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Georgia Tech.

Early life

[edit]

Ball played his high school football at Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia. As a senior, he passed for over 2,000 yards with 19 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He was named to the Super Southern 100 and Top 50 in Georgia by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Also, he was rated the number 133 player in Georgia by BorderWars.com and ranked among the nation's top 15 all-purpose quarterbacks by Rivals.com.[1]

College career

[edit]

Ball was the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Georgia Tech since Stu Rogers in 1980.[2] Ball's first start was in the Yellow Jackets' opening game against BYU in 2003. Since then, he missed just one game and amassed 8,128 passing yards, 57 touchdown passes and 9,579 total yards of offense in his career, but also threw 55 interceptions. Ball's passing yards total is third on Georgia Tech's career list, behind Joe Hamilton and Shawn Jones, and his touchdown pass and total offense totals are second behind Hamilton.[1] Ball accumulated 11 rushing touchdowns and also rushed for 1,451 yards in his career, good for 18th on the Yellow Jacket leaderboard and second among Tech quarterbacks in history (Hamilton). He wore jersey number 1.

During his career, Ball was named ACC Rookie of the Year in 2003[3] and was named the MVP of the Champs Sports Bowl in 2004.[4] He compiled a record of 29–20 as the starting quarterback for the Yellow Jackets.[5] Ball, whose athleticism was well noted as CouchScout.com listed him at 4.46 in the 40-yard dash, led Georgia Tech to three 7-win seasons in a row. He capped off his career with a 9–5 mark in 2006 that included a #25 ranking nationally (heading into the Toyota Gator Bowl) and an ACC Coastal Division Championship.[6] In 2005, Georgia Tech was trailing UGA 14–7 with 1st & 10 at the UGA 11. Ball threw an interception that helped secure a victory for the Bulldogs, who thus stretched their winning streak over their in-state rivals to five games.

Ball started his senior season for the Yellow Jackets by leading the team to a sterling 9–2 record, but his collegiate career ended on a negative note on December 2, 2006, with a 9–6 loss in the ACC Championship Game to Wake Forest, just one week after Ball's Georgia Tech team lost to in-state rival UGA for a sixth straight year. He completed less than 30% (15–51) of his passes in these last two games, threw four interceptions, and gave up a crucial fumble in the loss to Georgia.[7] Although Georgia Tech earned a spot to play West Virginia in the Gator Bowl that year, Ball's controversial career abruptly ended when he was named academically ineligible, and backup quarterback Taylor Bennett was named the starter.[8][9] He left Georgia Tech after this season having completed only 44% of his passes, the worst mark of his four-year career, and not receiving an academic degree.[7]

Legacy

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Ball's college career will forever be marred with inconsistency. The teams he led "played to the level of the opponent," producing several impressive upsets while losing "easier" games.[10] Although he won several big games for the Jackets including two wins against ranked Auburn University teams and a win against #3 University of Miami on the road in 2005, Ball-led Yellow Jacket teams were 0–4 against the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech's primary rival. Ball's play in these games (including, in 2004, a drive-ending intentional incomplete pass out of bounds on 4th down and earning him the nickname "5th Down Reggie")[citation needed] will always be in question to Georgia Tech fans. He finished his career by losing to UGA, losing the ACC Championship game to Wake Forest, and being declared academically ineligible for the 2007 Gator Bowl, which would have been his final game. College football writer Pete Fiutak, contributor to the website Collegefootballnews.com, challenged readers to name a more ineffective four-year college football starter than Ball.[11] Brett Jensen compared his career to that of the Clemson Tigers' Charlie Whitehurst; both had impressive freshman seasons, but they were unable to live up to the expectations placed upon them.[12]

Statistics

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Passing Rushing
YEAR CMP ATT CMP% YDS TD INT ATT YDS AVG TD
2003 181 350 51.7 1,996 10 11 139 384 2.8 3
2004 164 330 49.7 2,147 16 18 130 332 2.6 2
2005 182 379 48.0 2,165 11 12 104 381 3.7 4
2006 135 304 44.4 1,820 20 14 122 354 2.9 2
Totals 662 1,363 48.6 8,128 57 55 495 1,451 2.9 11

Professional career

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Detroit Lions

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At the NFL Combine, Ball tried out as a wide receiver, attempting to follow former college quarterbacks Antwaan Randle El and Reggie McNeal. He ran a 4.8 second 40-yard dash,[13] and had somewhat inconsistent pass coverage.[14] Ball was not selected during the 2007 NFL draft, but was signed by the Detroit Lions, auditioning for a role as a wide receiver/kick returner.[15] He did not make the team.[16]

On December 5, he was re-signed to the practice squad when defensive back LaMarcus Hicks was placed on injured reserve and wide receiver Brandon Middleton was promoted to the active roster.[citation needed] On July 27, 2008, he was placed on injured reserve.[citation needed]

Ball was released by the Lions on March 18, 2009.[17]

Indoor Football League

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Ball signed to play for the now-defunct Bricktown Brawlers of the Indoor Football League in 2011.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Georgia Tech profile". RamblinWreck.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
  2. ^ "Freshman Quarterback To Start For Georgia Tech". USA Today. August 25, 2003. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
  3. ^ "Faces in the Crowd: "Rookie of the Year"". The Technique. September 10, 2004. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
  4. ^ Long, Mark (December 21, 2004). "It's All Georgia Tech In Champs Sports Bowl". USA Today. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
  5. ^ "Reggie Ball". GT RamblinWreck.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  6. ^ "2006 NCAA Football Rankings – Week 15". ESPN.com. December 3, 2006. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Profile and Statistics". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
  8. ^ "Georgia Tech's Ball, Scott ruled out of Gator Bowl". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 20, 2007. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
  9. ^ "Jackets lose starting QB Ball, corner Scott for Gator Bowl". CBS SportsLine.com. December 20, 2006. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2007.
  10. ^ Holt, Andy (October 15, 2004). "Beyond the White and Gold: Too much talent? Dilemma of a quarterback controversy". The Technique. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
  11. ^ Fiutak, Pete (December 21, 2006). "ASK CFN – The Most Ineffective QB Ever?". College Football News. Archived from the original on March 26, 2007. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
  12. ^ Jensen, Brett (October 19, 2006). "The Trials and Tribulations of Reggie Ball". CUTigers.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2006. Retrieved May 22, 2007.
  13. ^ "Reggie Ball 2007 NFL Draft Scout Profile". NFLDraftScout.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved March 4, 2007.
  14. ^ Ledbetter, D. Orlando (February 26, 2007). "NFL COMBINE NOTEBOOK: Tech's Ball shows stuff as a receiver". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 4, 2007. [dead link‍]
  15. ^ Winkeljohn, Matt (April 30, 2007). "Ball to work out for Lions as receiver". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on May 2, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2007.
  16. ^ "Detroit Lions Roster". NFL.com. Retrieved November 13, 2007.
  17. ^ "Reggie Ball - NFL Transactions". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  18. ^ "Former PC North QB Kewan Dewberry sinks Bricktown Brawlers". The Oklahoman. March 6, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
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