Center Jason Ball from the University of New Hampshire was signed by the Chargers as a rookie free agent on April 23, 2002.

Honors: Lineman of the Year 2002

Record:
                                G    GS
2002 Chargers   16   13
2003 Chargers    8    8
2004 Chargers    3    2

College:
True warrior who plays with a "take no prisoners" approach to his game … Moved into the starting lineup as a freshman and has dominated the action in the trenches ever since … Started every game (35) he's ever played in for the Wildcats.

Mentally and physically tough player with the explosive first step needed to gain advantage coming off the snap … Shows good hand technique and punch to rock defenders back … Plays at the proper pad level on traps, hitting with force on the pull … Loves to mix it up with linebackers in the open, taking good angles to get to the defender with a head of steam … Stays active and keeps his feet flat when sliding back to pick up the blitz … Smart player who makes all the blocking calls upfront … Can also handle deep snapping duties in an emergency.

2001: All-America second-team and All-Atlantic Ten Conference first-team selection by The National Sports Bureau, adding third-team national honors from the Sports Network … All-New England first-team pick … Graded 84.1 percent for blocking consistency and totaled 105 key blocks/knockdowns for an offense that averaged 449.2 yards per game. Hampton: Put on a blocking clinic in the season opener with ten first-half knockdowns and touchdown-resulting blocks on runs of 1, 13 and 52 yards by Stephan Lewis as the team gained 492 yards. James Madison: Cut blocked linebacker Derrick Floyd as QB Ryan Day hid behind his center until finding Michael Taylor with an 80-yard touchdown bomb as the Wildcats passed for 238 yards. Dartmouth: Shoved defensive tackle Jeff Garrett to the ground as Day hit Brian Mallette with a game-winning 24-yard touchdown pass with 0:04 left in a 42-38 decision. Massachusetts: Proved to be Lewis' personal bodyguard, making fourth-quarter touchdown-resulting blocks to spring the tailback for runs of 2, 56 and 77 yards.

2000: First-team All-New England and second-team All-Atlantic Ten Conference selection … Started the first nine games, missing the final two contests with torn cartilage in his left knee … Graded 82.1 percent for blocking consistency and made 60 key blocks/knockdowns as the team averaged 405.4 yards per game.

1999: Started every game at center, anchoring an offensive line that allowed a league-low 11 sacks.

1998: Started the final four games at center.

1997: Redshirted as a freshman.

Agility Tests: 5.41 in the 40-yard dash … 3.09 in the 20-yard dash … 1.86 in the 10-yard dash … 4.73 in the 20-yard shuttle … 7.87 in the three-cone drill … Bench presses 225 pounds 27 times … 388-pound bench press … 470-pound squat … 278-pound power clean … 31-inch vertical jump … 10-inch hands.

High School: Named first-team All-State in 1995 and 1996 at Londonderry (N.H.) High … Captained the squad in 1996 … Selected the Shrine Bowl captain in 1997 … USA Today honorable mention All-American in 1995-96 … Nashua Telegraph All-Area squad 1995 and 1996 … Lawrence Eagle Tribune All-League selection in 1995 and 1996.
 
 

Personal: Personal: Sports Studies major … Born March 21, 1979 … Resides in Londonderry, N.H.