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Indiana Football: Marcelino Ball is Hoosiers’ secret weapon for 2017

By Connor Muldowney

BLOOMINGTON, IN - SEPTEMBER 24: Chuck Wade #9 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons catches the ball in the end zone for a touchdown as Marcelino Ball #42 of the Indiana Hoosiers defends at Memorial Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - SEPTEMBER 24: Chuck Wade #9 of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons catches the ball in the end zone for a touchdown as Marcelino Ball #42 of the Indiana Hoosiers defends at Memorial Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Indiana football enters the 2017 with a new head coach in place and a budding defensive star in Marcelino Ball as the team’s secret weapon.

If you’re Indiana football, you have to be wondering what the deal is with the lack of respect after a bowl season. The Hoosiers went 6-7 in 2016, but lost head coach Kevin Wilson who had helped turn the program from a laughing stock into a somewhat respectable one in the Big Ten.

More: College Football: Ranking the top 50 players for 2017

The Hoosiers were once known as a layup, but under Wilson, the offense became much more high-powered and beat teams buy putting up 40, 50 and even 60 points. No school was safe from this offensive onslaught, but defensive-minded coach Tom Allen has taken over.

In 2016, the Hoosiers took a step forward on the defensive side of the ball in Allen’s first year as the team’s defensive coordinator and he looks to improve that unit once again, but this time as the head coach.

Everyone knows about stars such as Tegray Scales, an All-Big Ten linebacker, as well as cornerback Rashard Fant, but there’s one player on the defensive side of the ball that doesn’t get enough love and who could sneak up on opponents win 2017: Marcelino Ball.

The former three-star defensive back had an impressive true freshman season at the Husky position — basically a fifth defensive back or nickel-type. He was third on the team with 75 tackles and was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection. However, he slips into the unknown on a defense with two guys who share the spotlight: Fant and Scales.

Entering the 2017 season, Ball will be a name to watch as he could break out as one of the best players in the entire league. The 6-foot, 212-pound defensive back is aggressive and has shown what he can do. In fact, he had 75 tackles, eight pass deflections and two picks in 2016.

Next: College Football: Top 50 breakout candidates for 2017

The Hoosiers have themselves a star-in-the-making and he just happens to play third-fiddle to a couple of other big-name players. Watch out, Big Ten.

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