He capped off his career with a 9–5 mark in 2006 that included a #25 ranking nationally (heading into the Toyota Gator Bowl) and an ACC Coastal Division Championship.
Ball threw an interception that helped secure a victory for the Bulldogs, who thus stretched their winning streak over their in-state rivals to five games.
Ball started his senior season for the Yellow Jackets by leading the team to a sterling 9–2 record, but his collegiate career ended on a negative note on December 2, 2006, with a 9–6 loss in the ACC Championship Game to Wake Forest, just one week after Ball's Georgia Tech team lost to in-state rival UGA for a sixth straight year.
Ball's play in these games (including, in 2004, a drive-ending intentional incomplete pass out of bounds on 4th down and earning him the nickname "5th Down Reggie")[citation needed] will always be in question to Georgia Tech fans.
[11] Brett Jensen compared his career to that of the Clemson Tigers' Charlie Whitehurst; both had impressive freshman seasons, but they were unable to live up to the expectations placed upon them.
[12] At the NFL Combine, Ball tried out as a wide receiver, attempting to follow former college quarterbacks Antwaan Randle El and Reggie McNeal.
[16] On December 5, he was re-signed to the practice squad when defensive back LaMarcus Hicks was placed on injured reserve and wide receiver Brandon Middleton was promoted to the active roster.