Ballard back in form at fullback for Mids
<DIV ="col_story_byline">By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer
<DIV ="col_story_pubdate">Published August 21, 2007
<DIV ="col_story_lead">It was obvious on Media Day that Navy fullback Adam Ballard was in the best shape of his career. His physique was sculpted like never before with muscles bulging and not an ounce of fat detectable.
<DIV name="thestorycontainer" ="col_story_text">Coming off a season-ending injury that required surgery, Ballard stayed in Annapolis most of the summer and attended 30 of 36 conditioning sessions. An offseason spent lifting weights added 13 pounds of muscle to the Texas native's 6-foot-1 frame and he reported to camp at a career-high 236 pounds.
"Adam took a very business-like approach to this summer. He busted his tail in the weight room and came back in great shape," Navy fullbacks coach Chris Culton said.
By all accounts, that hard work during the summer has paid off for Ballard, who has solidified his status as the starting fullback with a strong preseason camp. The powerful senior looked in mid-season form during Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage, barreling through the Navy defense for 80 yards on 11 carries.
"There were a lot of holes in there, but (Ballard) ran pretty well. He did some good things," Navy head coach Paul Johnson said. "Adam has had a really good camp and is playing really well. I expect him to be a good player for us this year."
Ballard is hoping for a career-best season and certainly wouldn't mind surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for yardage and reaching double digits for touchdowns. The native of Lewisville, Texas, is more concerned about achieving two basic goals.
He'd like to start in every game and receive no poor marks during game tape review from the coaching staff.
Navy coaches review film of each game and evaluate whether players go hard from snap to whistle. Failure to do so results in a "lack of effort" on a players' report card.
Ballard didn't accumulate too many "effort" deductions last season while rushing for 792 yards on 154 carries. He probably would have reached the coveted 1,000-yard plateau if not for an ankle injury that limited him to two carries against Eastern Michigan and a broken leg suffered on his second carry against Army. Factor in the Meineke Car Care Bowl and the bruising fullback basically did not play in 11 games.
Backup Eric Kettani performed well in Ballard's place, rushing for 189 yards on 38 carries accumulated mostly over the final three games. Culton said the competition presented by the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Kettani may have provided the impetus for Ballard to get into tip-top shape.
"The greatest motivation is somebody breathing down your neck. When you know there is somebody behind you, you're going to work harder," Culton said.
Ballard, who underwent surgery in December and rehabilitated in time to participate in spring practice, said the injuries are what motivated him.
"I kind of felt like there was unfinished business," he said. "This is my last season and I don't want to have to look back and wonder what if... I don't want any regrets."
To that end, Ballard was a model of discipline during the summer - avoiding the type of food and drink that can add unnecessary weight.
"I tried to be real strict on myself and that involved eating right all the time and staying out of the *****-tonk and karaoke bars," he said.
Going into camp, one of the best position battles figured to come at fullback between Ballard and Kettani. However, that fight never materialized since Ballard took charge from day one.
"Adam had to come out here and earn his spot and he's done that. He's had a much better camp (than Kettani) and there's really been no doubt about who deserves to be No. 1," Culton said.
"I'm looking forward to a big season out of Adam Ballard, and it will go a long way toward determining the success of our football team."
Ballard, who actually played wide receiver as a senior at Marcus High, follows in the footsteps of one of the finest fullbacks in Navy history. He teamed with Matt Hall to replace Kyle Eckel in 2005 and flashed his potential by rushing for 668 yards and six touchdowns. That was the most rushing yards by a Navy sophomore since quarterback Brian Madden had 897 in 1999.
Eckel ranks fourth on Navy's all-time record board with 2,906 career rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns. He rushed for 1,249 yards as a junior and scored 11 touchdowns as a senior.
Ballard, whose career average of 5.5 yards per carry is fifth-best in school history, is capable of putting up similar numbers.
"Adam's always been a pretty good player. When he's healthy and he's right he's a load... real hard to tackle," Johnson said. ''Adam and Kyle are a lot different. They're both good players in their own right, but they're different."
Ballard is similar to Eckel in that he's drawn the interest of the National Football League. Johnson confirmed that professional scouts have visited the Naval Academy to evaluate Ballard, watching practice and reviewing game film.
Ballard, who is hoping for a career in the Marine Corps after graduation, has no desire to discuss the prospect of playing in the NFL. The 6-foot-1, 236-pounder will get a chance to impress the scouts in the postseason when he participates in the East-West Shrine All-Star Game, being held Jan. 19 in Houston.
"I think it's a little premature to be talking about that now. My focus is on staying healthy and having the type of senior season I know I'm capable of having," he said.
Senior center Antron Harper said Ballard has been running hard in preseason and thinks his classmate will produce on Saturdays.
"Adam worked real hard during the summer and prepared for this to be his best season ever," Harper said. "He's come out all business and gone full speed in all the drills."
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