Dakota Ball

Position:
TE
Height:
6-3
Weight:
268
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Lindale, Ga.
High School:
Pepperell

2016 (Senior)

Moved into the rotation along the defensive front after spending last season as a tight end/H back ... totaled 12 tackles on the season with one for loss (-10 yards) and half a sack (-8 yards) ... also added two quarterback hurries. USC: Entered in a reserve role along the defensive line, making one solo stop on the night. Western Kentucky: Finished with a career-high five tackles, including half a sack (-8 yards) ... his five tackles tied for the second most against the Hilltoppers. Ole Miss: Collected one tackle and a quarterback hurry in a reserve role along the defensive line. Kent State: Registered three tackles, including half of a tackle for loss (-2 yards) in a half of play against the Golden Flashes. Kentucky: Finished with one tackle against the Wildcats. Arkansas: Saw time along the defensive front but did not record any stats. Tennessee: Entered in a reserve role along the Tide defensive front but did not record any stats. Texas A&M: Did not record any stats in a reserve role along the defensive front. LSU: Played along the Tide defensive front but did not record any stats ... helped limit the Tiger rushing attack to a lowly 33 yards. Mississippi State: Made one stop along the defensive front ... his play in a rotational role at defensive tackle helped limit the Bulldogs to 94 yards rushing. Chattanooga: Pressured the quarterback once and helped the defense limit the Mocs to 184 yards, including 70 rushing yards. Auburn: Helped along a Tide defensive front that limited the Tigers -- the SEC’s top rushing offense -- to only 66 yards on the ground. Florida: Rotated in along the defensive front, helping to limit the Gators to 0 yards rushing on the day ... did not record any stats.

2015 (Junior)

Worked in an expanded role at tight end. Wisconsin: Saw action off the bench on offense, but did not record any statistics. Middle Tennessee: Earned his first career start at tight end against the Blue Raiders, but did not record any statistics. Ole Miss: Made his second straight start, but did not collect any stats. ULM: Entered off the bench to help block for 137 yards rushing by the Crimson Tide backs. Georgia: Came off the bench to help open holes for the Tide’s 189 total rushing yards, including a career-high 148 by Derrick Henry. Arkansas: Provided blocks for the Crimson Tide backs to accumulate 134 yards on the ground and one score. Mississippi State: Came off the bench to help block for Derrick Henry’s 204 yards rushing. Charleston Southern: Hauled in his first pass of the season for a gain of eight yards. Auburn: Entered off the bench to help block for a career-high 271 yards rushing by Derrick Henry. Florida: Helped block for 437 yards of total offense, including 233 yards on the ground. Michigan State: Provided blocks for 440 yards of total offense against the Spartans. Clemson: Entered as a blocker along the offensive front, helping provide holes for Derrick Henry’s 158 yards rushing.

2014 (Sophomore)

Saw action in 12 games ... got his first playing time at tight end in the season opener against West Virginia ... did not have a catch in 2014.

2013 (Redshirt Freshman)

Played in one game for the Crimson Tide in 2013 … saw reserve action along the defensive line against Chattanooga.

2012 (Freshman)

Redshirted during his first season at the Capstone.

High School and Personal Data

Was an outstanding defensive line prospect for the 2012 class … turned in a solid effort as a starting defensive tackle in the Under Armour All-America Game … a four-star prospect by MaxPrep’s Tom Lemming … three-star defensive lineman by Rivals.com, Scout.com, 247Sports.com and ESPNU … Scout.com ranked him as the nation’s No. 27 defensive tackle prospect … Rivals.com rated him No. 29 among defensive tackles and the No. 28 player in the state of Georgia … ESPNU considered him the No. 27 defensive tackle, 152nd among players in the Southeast and No. 35 in Georgia … 247Sports.com ranked Ball as the No. 36 defensive tackle and the No. 35 player in Georgia … PrepStar All-Southeast Region … Georgia Sports Writers Association AA All-State selection as a senior, when he made 73 tackles with 17 tackles for loss, seven sacks, 38 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, including one he returned for a touchdown … coached by Jeff Shifflett at Pepperell High School … chose Alabama over Georgia, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Clemson and South Carolina.