Dont forget about Russell Ball

La Marque, Texas, four-star all-purpose running back Russell Ball has been off the radar screen this season for two totally different reasons. The first reason is that he committed early to Florida State, and the second reason is that the 5-foot-9, 165-pounder suffered a partial tear of his ACL early in the season and has been on the shelf ever since.

But things might start to pick back up for the nation’s No. 3 all-purpose back and the No. 15 player in Texas.

“I’m coming back really good with my rehab,” he said of his partially torn ACL in his left knee. “I’m lifting and starting to work on making it stronger. I’m going to miss the entire season, but I plan on being back for track season. They’re telling me that it’s going to be stronger and I might even be faster than I was before.”

In the meantime, Ball has put on his coach’s hat.

“It’s been hard and fun watching the guys out there without me,” he said. “I get to watch the young guys and see what they’re able to do. I help them out as much as I can. There are things that I can see out there and I can help them with it. I think we’re going to win state this year, even without me, because those guys are working so hard.”

Ball said at this point he remains a Florida State commitment. He said he talks to the coaches in Tallahassee every few weeks, but he did say that he has plans on taking other visits.

“I know that I’m going to visit TCU, too,” he said. “TCU is really still the only one that calls. I guess they all thought since I was committed there was no need to call anymore. If somebody were to call, I’d take a visit there. You only get to go through recruiting once.”

Before Ball committed to FSU he had offers from Houston, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and SMU.