Heisman Watch: Will Timberland's Montee Ball Make the List?

On Nov. 24, Wisconsin running back and former Timberland football star Montee Ball broke the all-time career touchdown record in FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) college football.

Ball’s 17 yard touchdown run in the first quarter was the 79th of his career, a Wentzville School District press release reported, breaking the 13-year-old record set by Miami (Ohio) running back Travis Prentice. With that record, Ball passed former All-American running backs like Marshall Faulk, Ron Dayne, Cedric Benson and Ricky Williams.

But will the record assure Ball of a Heisman nomination?

Nick Holt of The Bleacher Report says no, basing his opinion on the Wisconsin Badgers loss to the Oregon State Beavers in early September. The Beavers completely shut down the Ball scoring machine, holding the Timberland grad to only 61 yards on 15 carries.

But Bleacher Report columnist Dave Radcliffe still holds out hope for a Ball nomination. In an Oct. 18 story, Radcliffe featured a poll about Ball's chances of becomeing a Heisman finalist. At the time of this writing, voters were giving him a thumbs-up with 73.2 percent saying yes.

However, Ball is conspicuously absent from ESPN's Heisman Watch poll. The announcement of nominations is scheduled for Dec. 8.

A few Montee Ball factoids:

• He set the St. Louis metro area career rushing record in 2009, and finished his high school career with 7,109 yards and 88 touchdowns.
• During his senior year at Timberland he was named the Class 5A Player of the Year by the Missouri Football Coaches Association.
• In 2011, Ball tied the NCAA record for most touchdowns in a season with 39, held by Barry Sanders.
• Ball was nominated as a Heisman Trophy Finalist in 2011.

In August, Ball suffered a concussion when he was the victim of an assault.

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