MONTEE WILL CARRY THE BALL FOR THE BADGERS

Timberland RB Montee Ball 5`11" 210 committed to the Wisconsin Badgers last night around 6:30 according to his father, Montee Ball Sr., who reported on this development to me. He also informed me about some reasons behind the commitment and the timing.

" Montee was up at Wisconsin on Friday and he was the only recruit on campus at the time, so he really got some personal attention and a chance to see everything, and get to know the coaches and players a lot. He just clicked with the other players and he seemed like he was teammates with them already." said Montte Ball Sr.

He also added how Wisconsin`s offense seemed to be the best fit among the schools recruiting him, which included Missouri,Kansas,Stanford and Northwestern among others.

" The Badgers offense is almost the same as the one Montee`s HS team runs. They have a lot of the exact same plays and so it fits him well. Plus, as you know Wisconsin really runs the ball and has had similar back to Montee. It would be hard for a kid who carries the ball 25-30 times a game to go to an offense where he did not get that. So this is perfect for what he was looking for both academically and on the football field."

MONTEE BALL VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

        Rams Def. Coor Jim Haslett poses with Timberland`s Montee Ball

Montee Ball Video Highlights # 1  Click Here

Montee Ball Video Highlights # 2  Click Here

Montee Ball Video Highlights # 3  Click Here

Montee Ball Video Highlights # 4  Click Here

MONTEE BALL CHECKS OUT MIZZOU`S JUNIOR DAY

When the Missouri Tigers held their first junior day of 2008 back on February 2nd, they had just about every top prospect in the state attend. The one exception was Timberland RB Montee Ball 5`11" 205 Timberland HS who ran for over 3,000 yards as a junior. Yesterday however, the Tigers and Montee got a chance to get a little better acquainted.

"I went to Mizzou`s junior day yesterday and it went really well." said Montee Ball when asked about his visit. "We got there about 3:45 and I talked with Coach Ford. They fed us and I got to meet RB coach Brian Jones. We talked about the running back position in general and at Mizzou and how the backs are used. It really helped to show me how I would fit into the Tigers offense. He explained how people did not realize how important the running game was in this offense and how the running back averaged over 100 yards in their wins last year."

Ball also enjoyed seeing the campus and facilities along with the game he watched.

"We toured the campus and facilities, which are great. Every thing was really nice. The academics are very good and my major is going to be business. Then we watched the game. I really did not know any of the other players there except for Kerwin Stricker. I got a chance to talk with Coach Ford some more and discuss academics, the program and what my role would be there."

Montee plans on attending some Tiger spring practices along with the Black and Gold game. The Tigers helped their cause in his recruitment with the visit.

"It only take an hour to get there from my home. That makes a difference and is really good to have the 4th ranked team in the country being only an hour away from home and to have the opportunity to play there. I have been to a few other places and the Tigers are right there among the top on my list so far."

Montee wasn't`t sure if he would be taking in any other junior day events this spring. He did mention that he would be attending Oklahoma`s camp in July and that his decision wouldn't`t come until sometime in December.

Montee Ball Video Highlights

BALL ENJOYS KU JUNIOR DAY -GETS SECOND OFFER

Montee Ball had been scheduled to visit Kansas for their junior day this past weekend for several weeks, but on Friday the trip became a little more meaningful as he picked up his second official offer this month, this time from the Jayhawks in the mail that afternoon.

" The offer was in the mail when I got home. It was pretty exciting."said Ball. "The Missouri offer was,too."

Ball returned home from KU and informed me how his visit went in Lawrence.

"The trip was excellent...I enjoyed every aspect of the visit..the food was great, game had fantastic atmosphere...I think my mom was most excited when Coach Mangino pulled us out of the tour to personally speak with me and to let us know that they really would like me to come to KU.  They took me and the other running backs into the meeting rooms and explained their run game schemes and showed me that they are very similar to what we run at Timberland..... He is really down to earth and very approachable.... Coach Mangino really got a laugh when I told him I was born in Kansas...he responded with a high five and a "Come on home Brotha!".,said Ball

"I also spoke with Nathan Scheelhaase, Jordan Webb, and T.J. Moe while we ate lunch...we joked around about each others team and what we expected out the upcoming season...we all hoped to see each other at the dome next year." he chuckled.

On his thoughts about Kansas and what was next for him in recruiting?

"I really feel like I could fit in with the coaches and their system...Now it`s Mizzou`s turn." he said reminding me that he will be at Missouri`s junior day this coming Saturday the 23rd.

Montee Ball Video Highlights

TIMBERLAND BACK GETS FIRST OFFER FROM MIZZOU

Timberland RB Montee Ball 5`11" 195 has seen the hard work of this past season which he ran for over 3,000 yards and 32 TDs start to pay off with his first official college offer coming from the home state Missouri Tigers.

Ball had just been invited to Missouri`s junior day this past weekend, but had already accepted an invite to Iowa`s junior day and kept that commitment. He had hoped to make a later visit to Mizzou if his schedule would allow it, and then he rearranged his schedule to make it to Missouri`s second junior day on the 23rd after hearing of the Tigers strong interest in him.

Then on Tuesday his Coach Craig Collins got word for Montee to call Mizzou`s Head Coach Gary Pinkel, who wished to speak with the  talented junior today.

"Montee just got off the phone with Mizzou`s coaching staff including Coach Pinkel and they officially offered him a scholarship to play football at the University of Missouri.", said Montee`s father, Mel Ball a few minutes ago. "They said they all need to make Montee a Tiger real fast...he will receive the papers early next week in the mail."

Ball also has a junior day visit set with Kansas on Feb 16th, and was scheduled to visit Northwestern for their junior day on the 23rd, but it will now be Missouri on that day, followed by a junior day visit to Notre Dame on Feb 24th. Wisconsin had also invited him to their junior day on the 16th and Illinois has sent him a junior day invitation as well. Oklahoma has invited him to their spring practices and scrimmages. Colorado was recently by the school to see him as well.

My analysis of Montee Ball is that he is a very strong inside runner with good vision who makes yards after contact.He also possess good speed and the ability to catch the ball, although he isn`t used that way often.A tough,durable runner he has the ability to make make short yards or break away for a long TD run. Ball has been a workhorse for Timberland carrying the ball 358 times last year for 3,077 yards ans 32 TDs for a 9 yard per carry average earning  1st team All State honors and 1st team All Metro.As a sophomore he ran for over 1,800 yards and 16 TDs earning soph player of the year.