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Finished the 2001 season as the Tigers’ fifth leading tackler despite missing two games ... Credited with 44 solo tackles and 16 assists, eight tackles for lost yardage (-22), one quarterback sack (-8), and four pass break ups ... 2000: Lettered as a true freshman in 2000 by appearing in all 11 games ... Started seven games including the final four games of the season ... Logged three tackles, one quarterback hurry and one pass break up in the season opener against Mississippi State ... Registered a season and career high 12 tackles in the Memphis win over Army at West Point ... Totaled nine hits in the Tigers game with Tennessee ... Was credited with 10 tackles in the season finale against Tulane and tallied seven stops in each of the Southern Miss, UAB and Cincinnati games ... Had his first career quarterback sack in the UAB game ... Finished the season as the team’s fifth leading tackler ... Logged 62 total tackles including 36 solo stops and three tackles for lost yardage ... Had eight quarterback hurries and six pass break ups ... Was ranked 29th in Conference USA in tackles ... Prep: Lettered in football, soccer and basketball at Morgan County High School ... Played both tailback and defensive back ... Rushed for 1,118 yards and scored 13 touchdowns in 1999 ... As a defensive back he recorded 71 tackles and seven pass interceptions ... Had 206 yards rushing, two pass interceptions and 12 tackles in a game against East Hall High ... Led his team to a 9-2 record and a bid to the Class 2A state playoffs in 1999 ... Was named to the Georgia Sportswriter’s All-State team ... Was named to the Atlanta Journal Constitution Georgia 75 recruiting list ... Received all-area, all-region and all-state honors in soccer ... Was all-area and all-region in basketball and helped the basketball team to a 20-6 record in 1999-2000 ... Was recruited by Clemson, Georgia and Georgia Tech ... Was a starter for the Morgan County basketball team ... Was a member of the National Honor Society ... Was named class president as a junior and senior ... Was voted Most-Athletic and Best All-Around by his classmates ... Born: 12/8/81 ... Played for coach Kenny Moore at Morgan County High ... Is the son of Columbus and Ann Ballard. Tackles G/S 2000 11/7 2001 9/7 2002 12/12 Totals 32/26
BALLARD'S STATISTICS UT AT Tot. FR Int TFL 36 26 62 0 0 3-14 44 16 60 0 1 8-22 76 25 101 1 3 13-46 156 67 223 1 4 24-82
Sack 1-7 1-5 3-27 5-39
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Started all 12 games for the Tigers at “will” linebacker in 2002 and appeared at outside linebacker in nine games during the 2001 season ... Has been a starter over the past three years at outside linebacker but will work as a nickleback this fall ... Is expected to play a key role for the Tiger defense this season ... 2002: Led the Tigers in tackles during the 2002 season ... Opened the season with six tackles against Murray State ... Logged six tackles against Ole Miss and had seven stops in the game against Southern Mississippi ... Had his first double digit tackle game with ten in win over Tulane ... Also had two quarterback sacks and a fumble recovery in Tulane victory ... Had season high 15 tackles in the Cincinnati and Houston contests ... Tied for team lead in pass interceptions with three ... Picked off his first pass in the Mississippi State game ... Second interception came against Cincinnati and ended the season with an interception against TCU ... Finished the season with 101 tackles, including 76 solo tackles, 13 tackles for lost yardage, three quarterback sacks, seven blocked passes, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery ... Was named to the All-Conference USA Team (2nd team) and to The Sporting News All-Conference USA Team ... Received the University’s Outstanding Defensive Lineman of the Year Award ... 2001: Sat out the first two games of the season ... Returned to action for South Florida game ... Credited with five tackles against South Florida ... Tallied seven stops in the Louisville contest ... Put together five tackles in each of the Southern Miss and Houston games ... Registered a season high 13 tackles in the UAB contest ... Was named the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week for his play against Southern Mississippi ... Was credited with five tackles, one pass interception, one tackle for loss yardage, one quarterback sack and two pass breakups ... Returned his interception for 29-yards and a touchdown which put Memphis ahead for good ... Had six total tackles against Tennessee ... Closed the season with eight tackles in the Army and Cincinnati games ...
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Nickleback 6-2, 205 Senior, 3L Morgan County HS Madison, GA
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DERRICK BALLARD
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The Players
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BALLARD'S CAREER HIGHS
Most Tackles/Game: 15 vs Houston & Cincinnati (‘02) Most Solo Tackles/Game: 13 vs Houston (‘02) Most Assisted Tackles/Game: 7 vs Cincinnati (‘02) Most Tackles for Loss/Game: 3 vs UAB (‘01) Most Quarterback Sacks/Game: 2 vs Tulane (‘02) Most Pass Interceptions/Game: 1 four times Most Pass Break-ups/Game: 2 vs Southern Miss (‘02) Most Interception Return Yards/Game: 29 vs Southern Miss (‘01) Most Int. for Touchdown/Game: 1 vs Southern Miss (‘01)