The fall belonged to Ball

The catchy marketing slogan by the UW Athletic department in 2012 fit tailback Montee Ball perfectly. Putting up staggering rushing numbers at Timberland High School in Wentzville, Missouri, Ball delivered two-and-a-half terrific seasons for the University of Wisconsin with his willingness as a workhorse and his knack of punching the ball in the end zone. Helping lead Wisconsin to three consecutive Big Ten championships, Ball still ranks 19th on the NCAA FBS career rushing list and is the only player in history to score a touchdown in three consecutive Rose Bowls.

But as much as his smiling personality and talent took center stage, Ball’s hidden secrets ended up holding him back.

In this latest edition of recruiting anniversaries, we look back 12 years at Ball’s decision.

The University of Wisconsin 2009 class started strong and the success came from in-state. Within a 48-hour window in February, then-head coach Bret Bielema got commitments from four-star prospects Jordan Kohout and Shelby Harris and three-star lineman Ryan Groy. UW added to that in May with the commitment of top quarterback target Jon Budmayr and picked up a mid-June commitment from Michigan offensive lineman Zac Matthias.

Rated the No.33 running back in the country by Rivals.com in the 2010 class, Ball had offers from Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas, Missouri, Northwestern and Stanford.

In the fall of 2017, the buzz in the St. Louis region when it came to tailback was centered around Ronnie Wingo, a 6-2 back who had been clocked as fast as 10.78 in the 100 meters during high school. Wingo (who eventually committed to Arkansas) was generating most of the attention in the 2009 class, making Ball fly slightly under the radar in that region.

Rushing for over 3,000 yards (tops in the state) and 32 touchdowns his junior season, Ball got a host of junior day invitations to places like Iowa, Kansas and Missouri, the latter giving him his first scholarship offer and making him a high priority. Even as more offers and interest came in, the Tigers appeared to be the top school for Ball heading into Summer 2008. Holding a one-day camp at Lindenwood University in Missouri, Wisconsin got a close look at Ball and pulled the trigger. Recruited by then-defensive coordinator Dave Doeren, Ball quickly fell in love with Wisconsin and the opportunities he had within the UW offense. Taking a visit less than three weeks after he was first offered, Ball committed shortly thereafter.

"Everything fits me perfectly. I love the academics. I love the environment, and I love how I fit their offense … I sat down with the running back coaches to watch film. Their style of offense is very similar to what we run at my school. At Timberland, they focus the offense to what my strengths are as a running back, and if you watch Wisconsin's offense, it's really based on the running back."

- Ball to Rivals.com

“My vision kind of sets me apart. I've been told, quote, "It's like tackling a grown man." I'd say strength is another big part of my game. I attribute that to my hard work, but my vision and my strength.”

- Ball to Rivals.com

Ball came to Wisconsin as the all-time leading rusher and scorer in the state of Missouri (8,222 yards and 107 TDs), but the hype around him took time to grow. A non-descript 2009 season turned into a slow start to 2010, including totaling just 219 yards in the first seven games. However, Ball scoring the game-winning touchdown in a critical road win at Iowa turned his career around. Breaking the 125-yards barrier the final five games of the season, Ball delivered 1,933 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also caught six scores, tying Barry Sanders for most touchdowns in an FBS season, and made him a 2011 Heisman Trophy finalist.

Ball returned for his senior season and, despite suffering an off-the-field concussion to slow the start to his season, delivered 1,830 yards and 22 touchdowns to win the 2012 Doak Walker Award. Helping Wisconsin win three-straight Big Ten titles, Ball was a two-time Big Ten Running Back of the Year, the 2011 Big Ten offensive player of the year, a consensus All-American and left college as the NCAA record holder in rushing (77) and total touchdowns (83).

Ball was selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by Denver, a dream scenario for him considering it was his childhood team and he was a great admirer of former Broncos tailback Terrell Davis. He had eight carries for 24 yards in his debut and scored his first career touchdown in October 2013. Overall, he finished the 2013 season with 559 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

It was a struggle from that point forward, as Ball played in only three games and was placed on injured reserve. In a crowded running back room in 2015, Ball only ran for 68 yards on 32 carries in the preseason and was waived. Signed later that season to New England’s practice squad, Ball was released by the Patriots in February following a domestic violence arrest. He never played professionally again.

Alcoholism played a huge role in Ball’s life. He started drinking his sophomore year, managed to be the top running back in the country his senior year despite a drinking problem and would get drunk Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday nights in Denver. Speaking for myself, Ball never came off as someone not in control, but reporters only had access to him twice a week. For someone who has rampant alcoholism woven throughout his family tree, it’s a shame nobody was able to recognize the problem and give him the help he needed.

Ball’s college career puts him on the shortlist of great Wisconsin players, and his 2011 season is one of the best individual seasons for a running back in college history. It is an interesting what if, however, if Ball wouldn’t have achieved even greater heights had partying and drinking got in the way.

The story has a happy ending, however. Ball has a son, Maverick, whose presence – along with counseling - has helped him turn around his life. He moved back to Madison in April, has a sobriety podcast called “Untapped Keg” and has helped counsel and comfort the homeless during the coronavirus pandemic. It’s a success story that affirms that the Badgers were wise to recruit him and lucky to land him over a decade ago.