It's not every day the Ohio Bobcats beat out a bigger in-state program for a recruit, but Wednesday night Ohio did just that when 2015 wide receiver Elijah Ball committed to the Bobcats over the likes of Cincinnati, as well as UConn, BGSU and Akron among others.
I have officially decided to commit my collegiate career as a student athlete to Ohio University! #BobcatNation ✅✅✅ pic.twitter.com/c9avTI0lVe
— Łala (@Elijah_8Ball) December 11, 2014
A product of Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ball is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound athlete, and is considered a Top 40 prospect in the state of Ohio by Rivals. With a sub 4.5-40 time, Ball flashed his athletic dominance this season when he took more than 150 carries as a running back, averaging over 5 yards a carry with his excellent agility and ability to beat defenders to the edge. As a wideout, Ball used that same speed and field vision, plus his size to bully opposing defensive backs.
He's most certainly better suited as a wide receiver for Ohio, but his ability to move in space as well as near the crowded line gives him the potential to be dynamic in the screen game Ohio relies so much on.
Check out Ball's highlights, courtesy of Hudl: