Latest news with #JoshBall
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saints Countdown To NFL Kickoff With The History Of Number 79
Saints Countdown To NFL Kickoff With The History Of Number 79 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. We now sit 79 days away from the 2025 regular season opener for the New Orleans Saints. New Orleans has a new head coach in Kellen Moore and will host the Arizona Cardinals to kick off their 59th season in the NFL. Advertisement Offensive lineman Josh Ball is currently wearing number 79 for the Saints. A late-season pickup in 2024, Ball is trying to resurrect a once-promising career at a crowded offensive tackle spot in New Orleans. Josh Ball is the 17th player to wear number 79 in Saints franchise history. A somewhat underwhelming list, here's a look through all the others who have worn the number. Saints History of 79 Oct. 13, 1968; New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Lou Cordileone (79) hits Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp (11). Credit: • Lou Cordileone, DT (1967-68) • Clovis Sweeney, DT (1970) • Emanuel Zanders, OG (1974-80) • Chuck Slaughter, OT (1982) • Ralph Williams, OG (1986) • Henry Thomas, OG (1987) • Glenn Derby, OG (1989-90) • Tory Epps, DT (1995) Advertisement • Troy Wilson, DT (1998) • Mike Halapin, DE (1999) • Jimmy Verdon, DT (2005) • Rob Petitti, OT (2006) • Bryce Harris, OT (2012-14, 2017) • Kyle Murphy, OT (2021) • Jordan Mills, OT (2021) • Yasir Durant, OT (2022) • Josh Ball, OT (2024) New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Emanuel Zanders (79) blocks against the Atlanta Falcons. Credit: Crescent City Sports Cordileone was the first to appear in number 79 for the Saints, playing the first two seasons of the franchise's history and recording an interception to go with 1.5 sacks. The first offensive player to wear 79 was offensive lineman Emanuel Zanders in 1974. Zanders played seven seasons in New Orleans. Over that time he made 78 starts at guard. Zanders seven years and 87 games as a Saint is the most by any player to wear 79 in team history by a wide margin. Advertisement Of the 16 players prior to Josh Ball that have worn 79 for the Saints, 12 of them wore it for a year or less. Only Zanders and offensive lineman Bryce Harris were with New Orleans for more than two seasons. Sep 28, 2014; New Orleans Saints tackle Bryce Harris (79) looks to block Dallas Cowboys defensive end Jeremy Mincey (92). Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images Harris was a backup offensive lineman with the Saints for four years. He appeared in 37 games with the team, making just 4 starts over that time. Derby was the only other 79 that remained with New Orleans for more than one year, appearing in just seven games through 1989 and 1990. Josh Ball technically enters his second year with the Saints. However, he was a late-season addition to the roster in 2024 and did not appear in a game. A fourth round choice by the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Draft, Ball hopes to jump-start a once-promising career and perhaps add some notoriety to the number 79 with New Orleans. Advertisement Related: Saints Sign Another Player To Their Tight End Position Related: Saints Countdown To NFL Kickoff With The History Of Number 80 Related: Saints Countdown To NFL Kickoff With The History Of Number 82 Related: Saints Countdown To NFL Kickoff With The History Of Number 84 Related: Saints Countdown To NFL Kickoff With The History Of Number 86 Related: Saints Countdown To Kickoff With The History Of Number 88 Related: Derek Carr Further Explains Retirement Decision From New Orleans Saints This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Josh Ball is the Saints Player of Day 79
Countdown to Kickoff: Josh Ball is the Saints Player of Day 79 Saints Player of the Day Josh Ball looks to resurrect career at a crowded tackle position. There are 79 days remaining before the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2025 regular season with a home showdown against the Arizona Cardinals. It'll be their 59th NFL season, but first under new head coach Kellen Moore after a 5-12 record last year. Offensive lineman Josh Ball currently wears number 79 for New Orleans. A late-season pickup in 2024, Ball is our Saints Player of the Day. Name (age): Josh Ball (27) Josh Ball (27) Hometown: Stafford, Va. Stafford, Va. Position: Offensive tackle Offensive tackle Height, weight: 6-foot-8, 304 pounds 6-foot-8, 304 pounds College: Marshall Thundering Herd Marshall Thundering Herd Relative Athletic Score: 7.80 7.80 Drafted: Round 4, 138th overall in 2021 (Dallas Cowboys) Round 4, 138th overall in 2021 (Dallas Cowboys) NFL experience: 2 years 2 years 2025 salary cap hit: $960,000 An all-state and four-star recruit at Stafford High School in Virginia, Ball started his collegiate career at Florida State. He'd earn a starting job at left tackle for the Seminoles midway through his 2017 freshman campaign. Expected to be the starter at right tackle in 2018, Ball was instead suspended for the year by Florida State for off-field issues. He'd transfer to Butler Community College for that year, then transferred to Marshall in 2019. That season, he'd earn the starting left tackle role by the end of the year. Ball earned 1st Team All-Conference USA honors with the Thundering Herd in 2020, starting all eight contests of an abbreviated season because of Covid. The Dallas Cowboys selected Ball in Round 4 of the 2021 NFL Draft. However, an ankle injury forced him to miss all of his rookie season. Upon his return in 2022, Ball appeared sparingly as a reserve at both left and right tackle through 13 games. A hip injury caused Ball to miss the entire 2023 campaign. He was released by the Cowboys at the end of training camp last year, but was brought back to the practice squad. Ball did not appear in any regular season contests last season. The Saints signed him to their active roster off the Dallas practice squad late in the year. Ball will try to resurrect his career by earning a swing tackle spot with New Orleans this summer. To do it, he'll have to beat out fellow reserves Landon Young, Josiah Ezirim, and rookie Easton Kilty behind projected starters Taliese Fuaga and Kelvin Banks Jr.
