No. 75 – Dallas Cowboys | |||
---|---|---|---|
Position: | Guard | ||
Personal information | |||
Born: | Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S. | May 15, 1998||
Height: | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | ||
Weight: | 304 lb (138 kg) | ||
Career information | |||
High school: | Stafford (Stafford, Virginia) | ||
College: | Florida State (2017) Butler CC (2018) Marshall (2019–2020) | ||
NFL draft: | 2021 / Round: 4 / Pick: 138 | ||
Career history | |||
| |||
Roster status: | Active | ||
Career highlights and awards | |||
Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||
| |||
Player stats at PFR |
Josh Ball (born May 15, 1998) is an American professional football guard for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft. He played college football at Florida State, Butler Community College, and Marshall.
Ball grew up in Fredericksburg, Virginia and played football at Stafford Senior High School. As a senior, he was a starter at left tackle, while receiving All-State and All-conference honors.
He was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and committed to Florida State University to play college football. [1]
As a redshirt freshman in 2017, he was named the starter left tackle in the fifth game against Duke University. He would remain as the starter on the left side for the last 9 contests of the season. In 2018, he was expected to be the Seminole's starter at right tackle, however, on May 21, 2018, he was suspended by the school for one year, after being accused of dating violence against his former girlfriend. [2] Although he was never charged, he opted to transfer to Butler Community College, where he was named the starter at left tackle. [3]
In 2019, he chose to transfer to Marshall University, instead of returning to Florida State University. As a junior, he was a key reserve on the team's offensive line, while playing in 13 games with one start against Western Kentucky University.
As a senior in 2020, the football season was reduced to 10 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He started 8 games at left tackle. He was ejected from the Conference USA Championship Game against the University of Alabama at Birmingham for incurring two personal foul penalties. He did not play in the 2020 Camellia Bowl, opting instead to start preparing for the NFL Draft. [4] He was named first-team All-Conference USA after the season. [5] He was forced to miss the 2021 Hula Bowl, after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 7+3⁄8 in (2.02 m) | 308 lb (140 kg) | 35 in (0.89 m) | 10 in (0.25 m) | 5.19 s | 1.90 s | 2.97 s | 4.70 s | 7.77 s | 27.5 in (0.70 m) | 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m) | 28 reps | |
All values from Pro Day [6] [7] [8] |
Ball was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (138th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft. [9] If it wasn’t for his problems off the field, he was projected to be a top-70 pick by some experts. [10] He signed his rookie contract on May 20, 2021. [11] He was placed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain injury on September 2, 2021. [12]
In 2022, he was given a chance to compete with rookie Matt Waletzko for the reserve swing tackle position. He didn't look comfortable in pass protection at tackle, forcing the Cowboys to sign the 40-year-old Jason Peters, after Tyron Smith suffered a torn hamstring in the preseason. In Week 14 against the Houston Texans, Ball replaced an injured Terence Steele (tore both the ACL and MCL in his left knee). Late in the fourth quarter, Ball gave up a strip sack on quarterback Dak Prescott, which the Cowboys recovered to back them up at their three-yard line. On the next play, he got beat again and the defender hit Prescott's right arm as he was throwing, which led to a second interception, forcing Peters to play at right tackle for the first time since 2006, on the eventual 98-yard game-winning drive. Ball only played 41 snaps in 13 games as a backup during the season.
On August 29, 2023, Ball was placed on injured reserve after suffering a hip injury in the final preseason game. [13] [14]
Alex Benjamin Barron is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the 19th overall pick of the 2005 NFL draft. He played college football for Florida State University, and was a two-time consensus All-American.
Ernie Sims III is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. He also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys.
Rob Christopher Petitti is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams and Carolina Panthers. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh.
Jerome Carter is a former American football safety. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He played college football at Florida State.
Mario Lashun Edwards Sr. is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Miami Dolphins. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft by the Cowboys. He played college football at Florida State University.
David Garfield Thomas is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, and New York Giants. He was drafted in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL draft. He played college football at the University of Tennessee.
Mike Jenkins is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Florida Bulls, earning All-American honors. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft. He also played in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Arizona Cardinals.
La'el Collins is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU, where he won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, recognizing the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) top offensive lineman, in 2014. Collins signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2015.
Joseph Donald Looney is a former American football center. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft. He played college football at Wake Forest University.
Xavier Filoitumua Suʻa-Filo is a former American football guard. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football at UCLA.
Zachary Edward Martin is an American professional football guard for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and was selected by the Cowboys in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. Named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Martin has made nine Pro Bowl and nine All-Pro teams.
Cameron Drew Erving is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Florida State and has played in the NFL for the Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, and Carolina Panthers.
Anthony Shaquille Brown is an American football cornerback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played in the National Football League (NFL) for primarily the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Purdue.
Trysten Hill is an American professional football defensive tackle for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UCF.
Chuma Edoga is an American professional football offensive guard for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft.
Terence Steele is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas Tech.
Noah Igbinoghene is an American professional football cornerback for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft. Igbinoghene has also played for the Dallas Cowboys.
Jabril Cox is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL draft. He played college football at North Dakota State, where he won three FCS championships and was named the MVFC defensive player of the year before playing the 2020 season with LSU. Cox has also been a member of the Washington Commanders.
Kelvin Joseph Jr is an American professional football cornerback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft. He played college football at LSU and Kentucky.
Matt Waletzko is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota.