Interest growing for Connecticut standout

Hamden, Conn. defensive tackle Eric Ball has seen his stock soar after a standout senior season. The 6-foot-5, 290-pounder now has four official visits set for January.

"I'm going to be pretty busy, but it's great," said Ball of his January schedule. "I have Syracuse on Jan. 10, Iowa on Jan. 17, Boston College on Jan. 24 and Penn State on Jan. 31. I have offers from all of them."

Boston College is recruiting Ball as an offensive tackle while the rest want him as a defensive tackle. It doesn't matter to him.

"BC is known for offensive linemen so I don't care," he said. "I just want to play football."

The Eagles are clearly the team to beat here, even if Ball fails to qualify.

"I should get my SAT back this week or next and hopefully I'll get the score I need," he said. "BC has talked about placing me at Worcester Academy for a semester if I don't qualify and if that's what it takes to get in, I'd probably do it. Syracuse told me they'd take me as a partial qualifier so that's a good option as well. Hopefully I get the score and then I can choose on my own."

Ball had more than 10 sacks this past season and nearly 80 tackles while being one of five Connecticut players nominated for the US Army All-American Bowl.