VERO BEACH – To the surprise of many around the Treasure Coast, Ethan Ball emerged as the Defensive Player of Week 2.

The St. Edward’s linebacker (‘25) was able to accomplish this, even as his team suffered a 44-0 loss at home this past Thursday (Aug. 31) to Okeechobee (2-0; then-No. 10 team ranking/now-No. 6 team ranking).

Ball’s statistics from Week 2 were as follows:

•17 total tackles

•12 solo tackles

•5 tackles for loss

Ball on his Week 2 outing against Okeechobee:

“Week 2 didn’t go our way. But competing and performing for three quarters against a school that is more than double our size, I think was the shock factor here,” the 5-foot-10, 190-pound linebacker said. “Playing at a high level against a much larger school is something that I have been around since my freshmen year, when we made it to the championship game (then-SSAC/now-SSAA).”

As a result of his play from Weeks 1 and 2, Ball earned the No. 17 overall player for the Class of 2025 on the Treasure Coast.

“Playing at Saint Ed’s and a smaller school, I have to work harder just to be noticed,” Ball said. “I can’t be recognized just by the name of the school that I play at, but more so how I play. Being named the 17th overall player in my class for the Treasure Coast, it proves that I can compete with bigger schools.”

Ball’s statistics after two regular season games are as follows:

•32 total tackles

•5 tackles for loss

•2 forced fumbles

•1 fumble recovery 

Also:

•3 carries for 81 yards, 1 touchdown at running back

Ball adopts a heart over height mentality. This enables him to rise to the occasion, especially when he feels like he is being doubted and counted out.

“Any sport I play, people are gonna be bigger than me,” Ball said. “I can’t control my height, but I can control my mentality and how hard I work. We know that we’re not the biggest team, and most people play both ways. What we can control is our attitude and mentality we have coming into practice each day.”

PHOTO CREDIT: Bob Jordan