NFL Scouting Combine 2013: Montee Ball Finds Motivation In Doubters
By Mike Dyce
Jan 1, 2013; Pasadena, CA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers running back Montee Ball (28) during a touchdown run against the Stanford Cardinal during the 2013 Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
In my first mock draft I had Montee Ball barely getting picked in the first round, by the Atlanta Falcons with the 29th pick. Hard to believe for someone with such an accomplished college career. He had one of the best careers of all time. He ran for 83 touchdowns and 5,140 yards.
That is more touchdowns than anyone in history. Another IMG client, he spoke about those doubting how he’ll fare in the NFL.
“They say I’m not special,” Ball said, via Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com. “They say I’m not especially fast. They say I’m not especially big. Well, fine, I’ll take that as a compliment. They’re not tearing me apart. They’re just saying that I don’t do one thing special. So what? If you’re pretty good all the way around, then you can be a very good running back.”
But if we know anything about the draft it is that even the experts get it wrong with some sort of relative frequency. I mean Ryan Leaf #1, and Tom Brady #199? You can find hundreds of stories like that in the NFL. And Montee Ball thinks he is one who is going to be overlooked because he isn’t fast enough and doesn’t have a glamorous 40 time at the scouting combine.
“Curtis Martin and Terrell Davis,’’ Ball said. “People said the same thing about them. They didn’t do anything special. Well, they both ended up having pretty good careers.’’
But the benefit of not being a high draft pick is that you can get picked up by a better team, the ones that draft last. It would also give you a better chance of landing up with a team you prefer. I mean who really wants to get drafted by Kansas City in the first round for any other reason than #1 pick money.
“I don’t have any dream scenario of what team I want to go to or what kind of offense I want to be a part of,’’ Ball said. “I just want to go somewhere and get a chance to be a three-down back and show what I can do.’’
Just give the kid a shot, he could tear up the NFL.