Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 42 Days (Marcelino Ball)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

#42

The Hoosier Huddle Countdown is rolling along! We are now only 42 days until the Indiana Hoosiers take center stage as the marquee event on college football’s opening Thursday night against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Today’s countdown feature focuses on a tremendous sophomore that had a huge impact on IU’s defense in 2016: Marcelino Ball.

Marcelino Ball

-Height: 6’0”
-Weight: 212 lbs.
-Hometown: Roswell, GA.
-Position: Husky

Last summer, Hoosier Huddle writer Alex Compton wrote the following about Marcelino Ball: “Every year, a couple guys in every recruiting class that start as “sleepers”, and end up being the best additions to the team. While it will take a few seasons to judge the 2016 Hoosier Army, one guy that I am going to throw in that category of best additions to the team is Marcelino Ball. With a college ready body and the ability to punish ball carriers as an incoming freshman, Ball is ahead of schedule in terms of player development in Tom Allen’s defense. He projects nicely in the run-stopping/ blitzing position in the new 4-2-5 scheme, and he will hopefully begin wreaking havoc on opposing offenses as soon as this fall.”

Not to lavish too much praise on Alex but, well, he nailed it. Ball came to the Hoosiers after a late rise saw him emerge on the radar of powers like Auburn, Clemson and Georgia. If things had picked up just a bit earlier for him or if one of those schools had a free scholarship, it is very possible he never would have looked at IU. Thankfully for the Hoosiers, Ball loved the vision that Tom Allen had for him and he believed he could play early in the new Husky position in Bloomington and the match proved to be an ideal one for all parties involved. Marcelino Ball grew up around football and several of his family members played collegiately and professionally. Those football instincts showed up often as Ball finished third on the team in tackles with 75 (including 60 solo tackles), two interceptions and eight pass breakups. He was named a 247Sports Freshman All-American and was placed on multiple different honorable mention All-Big Ten teams. His athletic gifts and physical build were obvious and he jumped off the screen as soon as he took the field. To put it bluntly, Marcelino Ball has the look of a big-time football player. 

The 2016 season was not without a few rough spots. Ball got lost in coverage a couple of times and fans were forced to remember that he was, after all, just a true freshman (a very young one at that). However, the positives far outweighed the negatives and there is little question that Marcelino Ball is on the verge of stardom on the gridiron. He is a key piece of a secondary that has as much talent and potential as any in IU history. With a bit more experience and knowledge on coverage assignments, it’s reasonable to expect a couple of seasons of All-Big Ten play for Marcelino Ball as he patrols the Husky position for the Hoosiers.

Please share any comments or thoughts in the comments section or in our message board. The countdown continues each and every day so make sure to check Hoosier Huddle daily as we churn towards the 2017 season!