HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall offensive lineman Josh Ball was selected 138th overall by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft on Saturday.
Ball was key to the Thundering Herd’s success in 2020, starting eight games at tackle. He was named a Conference USA all-league first team selection and was invited to the NFL’s Scouting Combine.
He wowed the 21 NFL scouts who came to Huntington for the Herd’s Pro Day, where he checked in at 6 feet 7 and 3/8 inches tall and 308 pounds. He recorded 28 repetitions on the bench press, the most of any Marshall Pro Day participant.
As a junior (2019), the Fredericksburg, Va. native made an immediate impact on the offensive line, seeing action in all 13 games, including one start (WKU).
Ball helped the team’s rushing game finish second in Conference USA in rushing, paving the way for C-USA MVP running back Brenden Knox.
Ball also became the first Herd player to be selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the program’s history. He is Marshall’s highest draftee since Aaron Dobson in 2013 (second round, 59th overall) and the Herd’s first offensive lineman taken in the first four rounds since Steve Scuillo in 2003 (fourth round, 122nd overall).
All-Time Thundering Herd NFL Draft Selections
Year Rd. Pick Team Name Pos.
2021 4 138 DAL Josh Ball OL
2020 5 159 NWE Justin Rohrwasser K
2020 7 243 TEN Chris Jackson DB
2015 7 247 NWE Darryl Roberts DB
2014 6 199 SEA Garrett Scott OL
2013 2 59 NWE Aaron Dobson WR
2012 2 59 PHI Vinny Curry DL
2011 5 159 NWE Lee Smith TE
2007 7 250 NYG Ahmad Bradshaw RB
2005 6 206 DET Jonathan Goddard DL
2004 2 54 DEN Darius Watts WR
2003 1 7 JAX Byron Leftwich QB
2003 3 84 CLE Chris Crocker DB
2003 4 122 IND Steve Sciullo OL
2002 7 243 STL Chris Massey LS
2001 2 51 DEN Paul Toviessi DL
2000 1 18 NYJ Chad Pennington QB
2000 2 43 SDG Rogers Beckett DB
2000 3 88 MIN Doug Chapman RB
2000 6 175 SEA James Williams WR
1998 1 21 MIN Randy Moss WR
1998 5 148 JAX John Wade OL
1993 8 198 NWE Troy Brown WR
1989 4 112 SFO Michael Barber WR
1989 6 164 BUF Sean Doctor TE
1983 7 186 MIN Carl Lee DB
1967 14 353 WAS Andy Socha HB
1965 16 211 NYG Tom Good LB
1964 18 251 GNB Mike Hicks G
1962 17 234 DET Rucker Wickline C
1959 29 338 CRD Jim O’Conner C
1958 15 170 CRD Ray Dunlap B
1958 24 288 CLE Jim O’Conner T
1956 8 97 CLE Len Hellyer B
1955 18 210 PIT Albie Maier G
1954 13 157 DET Jim Swierczek B
1950 13 170 PHI Norm Willey DE
1948 21 193 PIT Charley Snyder T
1942 13 120 CHI Jackie Hunt FB
1941 7 53 PIT Jim Roberts C
1940 14 126 DET Jack Morlock WB
1939 17 151 CRD Ev Elkins B
1939 18 162 CRD Frank Huffman T