Is he a safety? Is he a linebacker? Don't try to put a label on Elijah Ball
The old saying goes: The more versatility, the more marketability. And there are few players on the Purdue roster with more versatility than Elijah Ball.
Ball introduced himself to fans this spring with a breakout performance in the spring game on Saturday. It was the appropriate way for the redshirt freshman to cap what has been a big spring for the Indianapolis product.
“I felt like I was flying to the ball in the first half pretty well, reading my keys and what-not,” said Ball.
It can be difficult to keep track of Ball, who seemingly is here, there and everywhere. He is a safety by trade, but defensive coordinator Nick Holt slots Ball in many spots.
“This spring, I played a little bit of safety, I played nickel, Sam, Will,” said Ball. “I was about to get the chance to pay middle, but we didn’t get another practice in. Just trying to do my best.”
How does Ball keep it all straight?
“You have to be disciplined,” said the Ben Davis product.
Ball has caught the attention of Jeff Brohm.
“Elijah has done a great job,” said Brohm. “He has been very versatile for us. He started out as a safety, little bit of a linebacker, now he is in that nickel/linebacker position. He plays out of the box.
“You now what? He makes some plays at times. He is a guy we would like to get into the fold. I think when he knows what to do and is playing fast and downhill, he can make plays.”
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Elijah Ball
Ball will be deployed when Purdue faces offenses that like to spread the field and play multiple receivers. Ball’s counterpart in cross-training is redshirt freshman Jack Cravaavk, a 6-5, 245-pound defensive end who also is being worked as a “heavy” nickel linebacker to be used when the Boilermakers plays physical teams like Wisconsin and Iowa.
So, what will be Ball’s role in the fall?
“Elijah Ball is like our cover down LB,” said Holt “Kind of a nickel, hybrid backer. He is physical enough to slug it out in there. He is 215, a strong young man. What I like about Elijah is he has good ball skills and good instincts. He isn't the biggest guy, but he’s a good, tough football player. He will be fine and he will hold up.”
Ball took advantage of opportunity this spring, when the Boilermakers’ linebacking unit was wracked by injury. Key players like Markus Bailey, Cornel Jones and Jaylan Alexander missed all or part of spring drills.
“All spring, we were dealing with a lot of adversity,” said Ball. “A lot of people were out with injury. I feel like a lot of players stepped up.”
Ball was one of them. He seized his chance. And he isn’t worried about being crowded out come fall camp when all of those injured players return.
“The way Coach Holt explained it, I could play linebacker, I could play safety vs. spread teams like Illinois trying to provide more help in the open field,” said Ball, who feels he is better in coverage than run support at this stage of his career.
“I am just playing where they need me right now."
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