QB Jeff Ballard ranks as a top ten TCU QB despite under 2 seasons playing for the Horned Frogs
16 | QB Jeff Ballard (2002-2006)
As the quarterback for the Horned Frogs’ transition into the Mountain West, Jeff Ballard would lead TCU to consecutive bowl wins and Top 25 final rankings. A few weeks into the 2005 season, Ballard took over the QB1 during the game at BYU, throwing for 150 yards and 2 scores for the comeback victory in OT. In only 10 games, Ballard threw for over 1,800 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushing for another 8 scores to earn Honorable Mention All-MWC recognition, winning every game the rest of the year to win the Houston Bowl over Iowa State and finish the campaign ranked No. 9 in the AP Poll. As the clear starter going into the 2006 campaign, the Friendswood, TX native took full advantage of the opportunity, producing a top-ten all-time passing season in TCU history. His senior season would be highlighted by six total touchdowns (5 passing and 1 rushing) with just three incompletions in a 52-0 blowout of San Diego State. In the Poinsettia Bowl win over Northern Illinois, Ballard rushed for three scores and passed for another in the Horned Frogs 37-7 victory.
Ballard finished his TCU career with 4,204 passing yards and 27 touchdowns with 736 rushing yards and another 16 touchdowns. He currently ranks tenth all-time in program rankings in total career touchdowns and ninth in career passing yards, despite only playing 24 games.
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