Former Jets LB Marvin Jones on LaVar Ball: He Was Cocky, Seemed Like a Great Guy

Years before LaVar Ball and his sons—including NBA-bound UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball—became a national story, he was a professional football player.

As uncovered by ESPN.com's Rich Cimini, Ball was at the bottom of the New York Jets depth charts in the mid-1990s. He was a defensive end in his rookie year under Pete Carroll but changed to a tight end a year later once Rich Kotite took over.

Ball never appeared in an NFL game, but Cimini reported it's possible he checked in during the preseason.

Former linebacker Marvin Jones told Cimini that he remembers Ball "very well."

"He was a very athletic guy and raw," Jones said. "I remember him very well because he played only one year of college football. I remember a very confident guy and, yes, he voiced his opinion and was cocky, but overall seemed like a great guy."

On March 13, USA Today's Josh Peter passed along Ball's take on trying out for the Washington State football team as a tight end in the basketball offseason:

"

[Head coach Dennis] Erickson said, "Oh, you're awesome, you're good to go. But LaVar, they're going to know it's a different play if we don't have you blocking." I go, "Well, you got these big dudes, let them block. And I'll tell you this, out of four downs, I need the ball twice. If I don't have it twice, I'm gone."

"

He seemed like the same guy back then.

[h/t ESPN.com]