old-school linebacker who built his rep on tackling volume and toughness
Jeff Ball’s Rhode Island profile is built around a physical, assignment-solid linebacker who has long been associated with high tackle production and all-around defensive reliability, including 126 tackles as a senior in high school and 29 tackles in the 2008 season for URI[4][5]. He also showed up as an active presence in game logs, finishing with 8 total tackles against Brown in 2006 and 9 against Fordham in 2008, which points to a player willing to scrap in traffic and do the dirty work[9][11]. If you want a rugged, no-nonsense LB who brings effort, leverage, and a track-record of production rather than flash, Ball fits the bill.
