Ball rolling for Ball

Wentzville (Mo.) Timberland running back Montee Ball is one of the most productive running backs in the Heartland, and it's no surprise the 5-foot-11, 205-pounder has been a popular man with the college coaches this spring.

He finished his junior season with more than 3,000 yards rushing and 32 touchdowns. And now schools from all over the region have been putting the full-court press on him. He already has offers from Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri and Northwestern, but now Stanford has joined the mix.

"They offered me last Friday," Ball said. "That's a very solid Pac 10 offer from a great academic school."

Ball's school has been a busy place this spring. He's had Stanford, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, K-State, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, Colorado, Missouri State, Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, Miami of Ohio, Ball State and Northern Illinois in school to see him.

Wake Forest will be through later this week and a few other schools could join the mix with offers before the spring evaluation process is over.

"I will be going to Missouri's Camp on June 1st, and will be going to another camp – probably KU or Nebraska," he said.

He's always talked highly about the Tigers, but some schools have also made a good impression with Ball for sure.

Tim Tibesar at K-State said I'm the top running back in his recruiting area and was very impressed at the workout," Ball said. "He said he loves my tape and thinks I would be an ideal running back in their system. He mentioned that the decision to offer would come after the staff got back to the office in late May early June.

"Coach Ed Warinner at Kansas said that I'm the top running back on their board and I probably will be going up to a camp in June. Iowa State has already offered me, and I have heard a lot of good things about the coaches there.

Several Big Ten teams are also interested, Ball said.

"Wisconsin said they love my tape and loved the workout," Ball said. "They said I would be in the top five on their board. They talked to us about how the running back position at Wisconsin is different in that they can get top running backs every year because of their system and history of great running backs. The coaches say they will likely decide whether or not to offer me by early July.

"The quarterback coach at Indiana was at school and they told me they are very interested, but as a rule they don't offer this early to out of state guys. They would love to see me on campus and bragged about their top-10 rated business school. They said they thought I was the best running back in St. Louis in their opinion. Then I'm going to check out Northwestern for sure in June. They're such a great academic school."

A new school entering the race is Nebraska.

"They were by the school on Monday," Ball said. "It was the offensive coordinator (Shawn Watson). He said he was at the school to see my grades and find out what kind of kid I was. He said the running back coach had Okayed the offer and he was satisfied when he left. He said he had to clear it with the head coach and they would be in contact."

When he's not worrying about the recruiting process, Ball said he's working hard on getting better for his senior season.

"I am working with my trainers and getting bulked up and ready for the 2009 senior campaign," he said. "It's going to be difficult to surpass 3,000 yards again, but my offensive line has assured me that if I don't I will be very close."