Marcus Ball facts for kids
Ball before a Toronto Argonauts game in 2018
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| No. 6, 36, 46 | |||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | July 21, 1987 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 208 lb (94 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Stephenson (Stone Mountain, Georgia) |
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| College: | Memphis | ||||
| Undrafted: | 2012 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Player stats at CFL.ca | |||||
Marcus Ball (born July 21, 1987) is a former professional football player. He played as a linebacker, a defensive position in football. Ball played in both the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the National Football League (NFL).
He attended Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia. There, he was named the Class 5A defensive player of the year. He played college football at Florida State, Pearl River Community College, and Memphis.
Ball is well-known for winning two Grey Cup championships with the Toronto Argonauts. The Grey Cup is the championship game of the CFL, similar to the Super Bowl in the NFL.
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Marcus Ball's Football Journey
Marcus Ball started his professional career after the 2012 NFL draft. Even though he wasn't drafted by an NFL team, he signed with the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL.
Playing for the Toronto Argonauts (First Time)
Ball joined the Toronto Argonauts on September 10, 2012. He quickly became an important part of their defense. In his first two seasons with the Argonauts, he made 142 tackles, had 7 sacks, recovered 3 fumbles, and made 4 interceptions. Two of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns!
He helped the Argonauts win the 100th Grey Cup in 2012. This was a big win for the team, happening right in their home city of Toronto. In February 2014, Ball left the Argonauts to try playing in the NFL.
Time in the NFL
After his success in the CFL, Marcus Ball signed a three-year contract with the New Orleans Saints on April 2, 2014. He played for the Saints for a season.
Later, on May 21, 2015, Ball signed with the Carolina Panthers. He was part of the Panthers team that played in Super Bowl 50 on February 7, 2016. In that game, the Panthers played against the Denver Broncos, but they lost 24–10. Ball stayed with the Panthers for a while, moving between their main roster and practice squad.
He also had short times with other NFL teams. On October 12, 2016, he joined the practice squad of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Then, on November 22, 2016, he signed with the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers, and was later moved to their active roster.
Return to the Toronto Argonauts
On May 25, 2017, Marcus Ball returned to the Toronto Argonauts for his second time. He had another great season in 2017. He was named a CFL East All-Star for his strong performance. That season, he made 57 defensive tackles, 7 special teams tackles, 2 interceptions, and forced one fumble.
In the next season, 2018, Ball played in 10 games for the Argonauts and made 44 defensive tackles. However, he had a hamstring injury that made him miss the rest of the season. After the 2018 CFL season, he became a free agent.
Playing for the Calgary Stampeders
On October 1, 2019, Ball signed with the Calgary Stampeders. This was late in the 2019 CFL season. Unfortunately, about two weeks later, it was announced that Ball had suffered a serious injury: a torn ACL. This injury meant he would miss the rest of the season.
