Montee Ball Made Adjustments, Became Heisman Trophy Finalist

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Wisconsin running back and native Montee Ball received the best 21st birthday present imaginable earlier this week when he was nominated as a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.

Ball, speaking at an informal roundtable media session at New York’s Marriot Marquis in Times Square Friday, is busy taking in a unique experience that at one point didn’t seem possible earlier in his career.

This time last year Ball couldn’t have imagined being in the same position he is now as one of the top backs in the nation. He committed himself last off-season to losing weight and being a better threat out of the backfield. Falling behind John Clay and freshman James White on the depth chart and not playing in Wisconsin’s 2010 victory over Ohio State, the biggest win of the season, were proverbial eye openers.

“I told myself it’s now or never,” he said. “Losing the weight, I was able to take more carries. I was a lot more elusive and my cuts were better.”

He contemplated making a switch to linebacker, but after talking to his parents he decided to work harder.

“I wasn’t getting any playing time at running back,” he said. “My parents told me to be my hardest critic and make sure that you’re honest with yourself. Up to that point and after that I pointed the finger back at myself and told myself what I’m not doing.”

It was after Wisconsin’s win over Illinois on Nov. 19 in which Ball had three touchdowns and 224 rushing yards when he realized a Heisman nomination was possible.

Then there’s the astounding 38 touchdowns he’s compiled in 2011, one shy of tying Barry Sanders' NCAA single-season record set in 1988 at Oklahoma State.

“It’s just an honor being mentioned with Barry Sanders,” he said. “If you’re close to any record that Barry Sanders has, you had to have a great season.”

Ball, a junior, was the Big Ten's Running Back and Offensive Player of the Year. He did not win the Doak Walker Award given to the nation's top running back. It went to Alabama's Trent Richardson, a fellow Heisman candidate. The Badgers still have one game left this season when they take on Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

"Not winning the Doak and being the underdog for the Heisman just sets a fire under me for Oregon," he said.

This marks Ball’s first trip to New York City, an overwhelming experience to say the least, he said. He was joined by Richardson, Baylor's Robert Griffin III and Louisiana State's Tyrone Mathieu. Stanford's Andrew Luck is in Baltimore receiving the Johnny Unitas Award and will arrive in New York on Saturday morning.

Ball and the others have had a whirlwind 24 hours so far, attending college football award shows in Orlando on Thursday night and arriving in the Big Apple Friday afternoon on little sleep. Their Heisman tour continues Friday evening and Saturday morning.

Like Ron Dayne, Wisconsin’s last Heisman winner in 1999, Ball is set on helping raise the Badgers' national profile. Win or lose, he’s proud to be on the same list with his fellow nominees.

“Making it this far, I want to win it,” he said. “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of. If not, I will not be disappointed because whoever wins it is well-deserving."

Ball is a graduate of Wentzville's .