{{Short description|American football player (born 1990)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox gridiron football biography | name = Vick Ballard | image = | number = 33 | position = Running back | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|7|16}} | birth_place = Pascagoula, Mississippi, U.S. | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 10 | weight_lbs = 224 | high_school = Pascagoula (MS) | college = {{ubl|Mississippi Gulf Coast CC (2008–2009)|Mississippi State (2010–2011)}} | draftyear = 2012 | draftround = 5 | draftpick = 170 | pastteams = * Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2012}}–{{NFL Year|2015}}) * New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2016}})* | status = | highlights = * Second-team All-SEC (2011) * 2011 Music City Bowl MVP | statseason = | statweek = | statlabel1 = Rushing attempts | statvalue1 = 224 | statlabel2 = Rushing yards | statvalue2 = 877 | statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns | statvalue3 = 2 | statlabel4 = Receptions | statvalue4 = 18 | statlabel5 = Receiving yards | statvalue5 = 147 | statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns | statvalue6 = 1 | pfr = BallVi00 }} '''Vick Ballard''' (born July 16, 1990) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Mississippi State, and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts 170th overall in the 2012 NFL draft.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=105066&draftyear=2012&genpos=RB |title=NFL Draft Scout |publisher=NFL Draft Scout |date=September 21, 2006 |access-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref> In his post-football life, he is an aeronautical engineer for Lockheed Martin.<ref name="IndystarLM"/>
==College career== Ballard attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in 2008 and 2009. Prior to 2010, he transferred to Mississippi State University. In his two years at Mississippi State, he rushed for 2,157 yards on 379 carries and 29 touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vick Ballard College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/vick-ballard-1.html |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}</ref> He was named NCJAA 1st Team All-American.
Despite playing only two seasons, he is third on the Mississippi State career rushing touchdowns list, and his 19 touchdowns in 2010 are a school single-season record.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stephenson |first=Creg |date=2011-07-16 |title=Mississippi State football player Vick Ballard lands on Doak Walker Award watch list |url=https://www.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-sports/2011/07/mississippi_state_football_pla.html |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Gulf Live |language=en}}</ref>
==Professional career== ===Indianapolis Colts=== During the NFL Scouting Combine, Ballard tripped during the 40 yard dash and ran into the timer. On his second attempt, Ballard ran a 4.65 time, ranking 16th out of the 25 running backs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 27, 2012 |title=Vick Ballard Falls During NFL Combine's 40-yard Dash (VIDEO) |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/27/vick-ballard-falls-nfl-combine-40-yard-dash_n_1304672.html?ref=sports&ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000021 |access-date=August 27, 2012 |website=Huffington Post}}</ref>
Ballard was drafted in the fifth round by the Indianapolis Colts on April 28, 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2012 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2012/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Pro Football Reference}}</ref> His first game as a starting running back was played October 14, against the New York Jets. On October 28, he caught a pass from Andrew Luck and took it 16 yards for his first career touchdown. Ballard, under pressure from several defensive players, leapt and corkscrewed in mid air as he crossed the goal line. Ballard's score was the game winner in overtime against the Tennessee Titans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzlpaYmBCtg|title=Vick Ballard Defies Gravity- Touchdown Dive (Original Video By tylerzwilson06)|date=October 28, 2012 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> On December 16, Ballard rushed for a career–high 105 yards on 18 carries in a loss to the Houston Texans.<ref name="t364">{{cite web | last=Rieken | first=Kristie | title=Texans clinch AFC South with 29-17 win over Colts | website=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal | date=2012-12-17 | url=https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/sports/2012/12/17/texans-clinch-afc-south-29-17-win-over-colts/15115496007/ | access-date=2025-01-04}}</ref>
On September 13, 2013, head coach Chuck Pagano confirmed Ballard was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL, and as a result missed all but one game in the 2013 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Ballard-Lost-for-Season/05f57df4-ae53-4b49-a382-b152a880372a|title=Ballard Lost for Season|last=Kelley|first=Craig|publisher=colts.com|date=September 13, 2013|access-date=September 13, 2013}}</ref>
On July 25, 2014, Ballard was carted off the practice field due to an apparent ankle injury. An MRI revealed that Ballard tore his Achilles tendon, which caused him to miss the full 2014 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wells |first=Mike |date=July 26, 2014 |title=Vick Ballard has torn Achilles tendon |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/11265394/vick-ballard-indianapolis-colts-torn-achilles-tendon |access-date=August 28, 2014 |website=ESPN}}</ref>
On September 15, 2015, the Colts placed Ballard on waivers. Ballard cleared waivers and reverted to the Colts roster on injured reserve.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/15/colts-waive-vick-ballard/|title=Colts waive Vick Ballard|last=Alper|first=Josh|work=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com|date=September 15, 2015|access-date=September 22, 2015}}</ref> The Colts and Ballard reached an injury settlement on September 22, making him a free agent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2015/09/17/no-answer-why-colts-waived-vick-ballard/72358834/|title=No answer for why Colts waived Vick Ballard|last=Holder|first=Stephen|work=indystar.com|date=September 17, 2015|access-date=September 22, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/22/colts-sign-josh-thomas-release-vick-ballard-from-ir/|title=Colts sign Josh Thomas, release Vick Ballard from IR|last=Alper|first=Josh|work=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com|date=September 22, 2015|access-date=September 22, 2015}}</ref>
===New Orleans Saints=== On February 3, 2016, Ballard signed a reserve/future contract with the New Orleans Saints.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/02/03/saints-sign-former-colts-running-back-vick-ballard-to-futures-contract/|title=Saints sign former Colts running back Vick Ballard to futures contract|last=Crabtree|first=Curtis|work=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com|date=February 3, 2016|access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref> On May 9, Ballard was released by the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news-and-events/article-1/Saints-Sign-Rankins-Thomas-and-Lasco-to-Four-Year-Deals-Release-Ballard-Hunt-and-Opurum/7e901291-3938-47bb-aa11-ab602f9693fc|title=Saints Sign Rankins, Thomas and Lasco to Four-Year Deals; Release Ballard, Hunt and Opurum|work=neworleanssaints.com|date=May 9, 2016|access-date=May 9, 2016}}</ref>
==NFL career statistics== ===Regular season=== {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="2"| Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fum !! Lost |- ! 2012 !! IND | 16 || 12 || 211 || 814 || 3.9 || 26 || 2 || 17 || 152 || 8.9 || 19 || 1 || 3 || 0 |- ! 2013 !! IND | 1 || 1 || 13 || 63 || 4.8 || 12 || 0 || 1 || -5 || -5.0 || -5 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2014 !! IND | 0 || 0 || colspan="12"| ''Did not play due to injury'' |- ! 2015 !! IND | 0 || 0 || colspan="12"| ''Did not play due to injury'' |- ! colspan="2"| Total || 17 || 17 || 224 || 877 || 3.9 || 26 || 2 || 18 || 147 || 8.2 || 19 || 1 || 3 || 0 |}
===Postseason=== {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="2"| Games ! colspan="5"| Rushing ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="2"| Fumbles |- ! GP !! GS !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fum !! Lost |- ! 2012 !! IND | 1 || 1 || 22 || 91 || 4.1 || 24 || 0 || 1 || 3 || 3.0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 |- ! colspan="2"| Total || 1 || 1 || 22 || 91 || 4.1 || 24 || 0 || 1 || 3 || 3.0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 |}
==Post NFL retirement== After his football career was over, he went back to college, earning a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from University of Central Florida in 2022<ref name="BSME">{{cite web |title=Vick Ballard |url=https://www.parchment.com/u/award/1ae7b3a5085c760b71f5c57162841501 |website=parchment.com |access-date=16 September 2025}}</ref> and a Master of Science in industrial engineering and systems engineering from University of Florida in 2025.<ref name="MSIE">{{cite web |title=Vick Ballard |url=https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7341477711741186051/ |website=linkedin}}</ref>
As of 2025, he is employed by Lockheed Martin as an aeronautical engineer since 2023.<ref name="IndystarLM">{{cite news |last1=Hunsinger Benbow |first1=Dana |title=Colts' Vick Ballard grieved loss of NFL dream. Then he became an aeronautical engineer |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2025/09/16/vick-ballard-loss-of-nfl-career-colts-running-back-aeronautical-engineer-mississippi-state/85604325007/ |access-date=16 September 2025 |publisher=Indianapolis Star |date=16 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250916211346/https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2025/09/16/vick-ballard-loss-of-nfl-career-colts-running-back-aeronautical-engineer-mississippi-state/85604325007/ |archive-date=16 September 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *[http://www.hailstate.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=16800&ATCLID=204973049 Mississippi State Bulldogs bio]
{{Indianapolis Colts 2012 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballard, Vick}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Pascagoula, Mississippi Category:American football running backs Category:Mississippi Gulf Coast Bulldogs football players Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs football players Category:Indianapolis Colts players Category:New Orleans Saints players