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Big Ten Football: Ranking the 30 best players of all time

By Quinn Douglas

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 02: The Ohio State Buckeyes celebrate after their 27-21 win over the Wisconsin Badgers during the Big Ten Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 01: Montee Ball #28 of the Wisconsin Badgers tries to get around the tackle of Sean Fisher #42 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during a second quarter run during the Big 10 Conference Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 1, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 01: Montee Ball #28 of the Wisconsin Badgers tries to get around the tackle of Sean Fisher #42 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers during a second quarter run during the Big 10 Conference Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 1, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Montee Ball Career Statistics, 2009-2012

  • Games Played: 49
  • Carries: 924
  • Rushing Yards: 5,140
  • Yards per Game: 104.8
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 77
  • Yards per Carry: 5.6
  • Receptions: 59
  • Receiving Yards: 598
  • Receiving Touchdowns: 6
  • Notable: 2011 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, 2011 Doak Walker Award, Consensus All-American, 2011 & 2012, NCAA Record 39 touchdowns in a single season

Montee Ball is another name in a long line of running backs to come out of Madison, Wisconsin since Barry Alvarez took over the program in 1990. Ball was a prolific running back for the Badgers, rushing for 5,140 yards and 77 touchdowns in his career. He had the most career rushing touchdowns in NCAA history at the time of his graduation, eventually broken by Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds.

Ball came to the Badgers from the St. Louis-suburb of Wentzville, Missouri by way of Timberland High School. He spent his first two season backing up John Clay and James White, rushing for 391 yards and four touchdowns his freshman year and 996 yards and 18 touchdowns as a sophomore. His sophomore season saw him becoming four yards shy of Wisconsin having three, 1,000 yard-rushers.

However, Ball exploded onto the national scene in his junior season, rushing for 1,923 yards and 33 touchdowns along with six receiving touchdowns. He was named the Doak Walker Award winner and a Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, leading Wisconsin to a Big Ten Championship and the Rose Bowl. He did return for a senior season, while his production dropped slightly, he still rushed for 1,830 yards and 22 touchdowns while leading Wisconsin to another Big Ten Championship. Ball was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 2013 NFL Draft.

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