Wisconsin RB Montee Ball Having a Huge Season, Draft Stock Pointing Way Up

One of my favorite running backs in all of college football was up to his usual tricks on Saturday afternoon, and that back is Wisconsin bruiser Montee Ball.

Ball is a big, powerful runner who has proven to me over the course of this season that he’s not just a short yardage back, but a fantastic athlete who can make plays all over the field. Against Indiana, he showed his athletic ability in spades, rushing for 142 yards and three touchdowns, catching a pass for 46 yards, and throwing a 25 yard touchdown pass to–who else–quarterback Russell Wilson.

He averaged over 10 yards per rush and had a big 54 yard run, which is a career high. Ball doesn’t have blazing speed, but he is quick to hit the hole and has great vision, burst, and power. He also has a nose for the end zone, scoring 16 touchdowns already this season, building off of a six game stretch last year where he had 15 touchdowns to finish the season.

In case you aren’t keeping count at home, that’s 31 rushing touchdowns in his last 12 games, and oh by the way, he’s also got a passing and receiving touchdown. 33 touchdowns over his last 12 games is almost unheard of. You have to wonder how many quarterbacks even have those kind of numbers.

Ball does more with fewer opportunities than most running backs I have seen. He has only 107 carries this season , so about 15 percent of the time, he is scoring a touchdown when he carries the ball.

This kid is special, and no one talks about him because Russell Wilson receives all the attention.

Maybe they will start now.