{{Short description|American football player (born 1985)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Lance Ball | image = Lance Ball.JPG | caption = Ball with the Denver Broncos in 2010 | number = 27, 35 | position = Running back | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|6|19}} | birth_place = Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 9 | weight_lbs = 220 | high_school = Teaneck (NJ) | college = Maryland | undraftedyear = 2008 | pastteams = * St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|2008}})* * Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2008}}) * Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2009}})* * Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2009}}–{{NFL Year|2012}}) | highlights = * Second-team All-ACC (2005) | statlabel1 = Rushing attempts | statvalue1 = 192 | statlabel2 = Rushing yards | statvalue2 = 801 | statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns | statvalue3 = 2 | statlabel4 = Receptions | statvalue4 = 27 | statlabel5 = Receiving yards | statvalue5 = 230 | statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns | statvalue6 = 2 | pfr = BallLa00 }} '''Lance Ball''' (born June 19, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins.
Ball was also a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, and Denver Broncos.
==Early life== Ball was born in Teaneck, New Jersey. He is a 2003 graduate of Teaneck High School, where he rushed for 3,403 yards and 39 touchdowns in his high school career.<ref>[http://umterps.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ball_lance00.html Lance Ball profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113203541/http://umterps.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ball_lance00.html |date=November 13, 2007 }}, University of Maryland Terrapins. Accessed July 6, 2007. "Teaneck High School: A three-year letterwinner and two-year starter ... rushed for 3,403 career yards (on 457 carries) with 39 touchdowns ... ran for 1,473 yards on 240 carries (6.1 avg.) with 18 touchdowns as a senior."</ref>
==College career== left|250 px|thumb|Lance Ball dives for a touchdown to put the Terps up 28–17 during a 2007 game vs. Georgia Tech. Ball played college football at the University of Maryland, College Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lance Ball Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BallLa00.htm |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> He had four 100-yard games in his last seven starts during his sophomore season, and emerged as one of the top running backs in the ACC, rushing for 903 yards with six touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lance Ball 2005 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/lance-ball-1/gamelog/2005/ |access-date=March 22, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref> He was the third-leading rusher in the conference with an 82.1 per-game average, and earned second-team All-ACC honors. In his junior season, he again led the team in rushing with 815 yards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2006 Maryland Terrapins Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/maryland/2006.html |access-date=March 22, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Lance Ball 2006 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/lance-ball-1/gamelog/2006/ |access-date=March 22, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref> He majored in family studies and minored in community health. As a senior, he had 768 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lance Ball 2007 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/lance-ball-1/gamelog/2007/ |access-date=March 22, 2018 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref>
==Professional career==
===St. Louis Rams=== Ball was not selected in the 2008 NFL draft, but was signed as an undrafted free agent by the St. Louis Rams. He was signed to their practice squad on September 1, 2008.<ref>[http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1619037 NFL Players] portsline.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906031802/http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1619037 |date=September 6, 2008 }}</ref> He was released from the practice squad on September 30.
===Indianapolis Colts=== Ball was signed to the practice squad of the Indianapolis Colts on October 12, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081015/SPORTS03/810150421 |title=Indy Star |access-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-date=October 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017054441/http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081015/SPORTS03/810150421 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was activated from the practice squad on December 28, 2008, and had his NFL debut on the same date.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts – December 28th, 2008 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200812280clt.htm |access-date=March 22, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
An exclusive-rights free agent in the 2009 offseason, Ball was re-signed by the Colts on March 17.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090317/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_colts_moves;_ylt=Av.3wvzIu7cbpuiaowaqKtwLMxIF Colts Re-Sign 3 Players] Yahoo Sports, March 17, 2009</ref>
===Tennessee Titans=== On October 8, 2009, Ball was signed to the Tennessee Titans practice squad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wilson: Titans sign Lance Ball to practice squad | National Football Post |url=http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Wilson-Titans-sign-Lance-Ball-to-practice-squad.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010122334/http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Wilson-Titans-sign-Lance-Ball-to-practice-squad.html |archive-date=October 10, 2009 |access-date=October 9, 2009}}</ref>
===Denver Broncos=== Ball was signed to the Denver Broncos' practice squad on November 3. Ball was signed to a reserve/futures contract on January 5, 2010. On September 21, 2010, Ball was waived by the Denver Broncos.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2010 |title=Broncos sign RB Andre Brown, waive Lance Ball |url=http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_16135567 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923133155/http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_16135567 |archive-date=September 23, 2010 |access-date=September 21, 2010 |website=Denver Post}}</ref> On the 2010 season, he had 158 rushing yards in ten games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lance Ball 2010 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BallLa00/gamelog/2010/ |access-date=March 22, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
Ball caught a touchdown pass on September 12, 2011, in Denver's season opener against the Oakland Raiders.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos – September 12th, 2011 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201109120den.htm |access-date=March 22, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> On November 13, 2011, running back Knowshon Moreno suffered an injury, opening the door for Ball to rush for 96 yards on 30 carries in a win over the Kansas City Chiefs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – November 13th, 2011 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201111130kan.htm |access-date=March 22, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref>
After Moreno was declared out for the year, Ball finished the 2011 season with 96 carries for 402 yards and a score (all career highs).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lance Ball 2011 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BallLa00/gamelog/2011/ |access-date=March 22, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> In the 2012 season, he had 42 carries for 158 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown to go along with seven receptions for 61 yards and a receiving touchdown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lance Ball 2012 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BallLa00/gamelog/2012/ |access-date=March 22, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}</ref> He was released on August 31, 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Florio |first=Mike |date=August 30, 2013 |title=Broncos bounce Lance Ball |work=NBCSports.com |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/30/broncos-bounce-lance-ball/ |access-date=June 11, 2014}}</ref>
== Personal life == On June 6, 2023, Ball was arrested in Douglas County, Colorado, on suspicion of assault and domestic violence.<ref name="m834">{{cite web | last=Nicholson | first=Kieran | last2=Nguyen | first2=Joe | title=Former Denver Broncos running back Lance Ball arrested in Douglas County | website=The Denver Post | date=2023-06-06 | url=https://www.denverpost.com/2023/06/06/lance-ball-denver-broncos-domestic-violence-douglas-county/ | access-date=2024-12-21}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{Commons}} *[http://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=29700&ATCLID=207383400 Maryland Terrapins bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ball, Lance}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Teaneck, New Jersey Category:Teaneck High School alumni Category:American football running backs Category:Maryland Terrapins football players Category:St. Louis Rams players Category:Indianapolis Colts players Category:Tennessee Titans players Category:Denver Broncos players