Montee Ball, a junior running back for the University of Wisconsin and Timberland High School graduate, was named a Heisman Trophy finalist.

The nominations for the 2011 award were announced Monday night on ESPN's Sport Center. The Heisman is considered the highest individual honor in college football.

Ball had a record breaking year in 2011. Ball has carried 275 times for 1,759 yards and 32 touchdowns, leading Wisconsin to the Big Ten championship and a berth in the Rose Bowl Game. He also was named the Big Ten Player of the Year.

Ball put up large numbers during his senior season at Timberland. In 2008 he carried the ball 203 times for a whopping 2,187 yards and scored an area-leading 41 times. Ball's lofty numbers couldn't have been accomplished without his trips to St. Peters. Ball put up big numbers against Fort Zumwalt East and Fort Zumwalt South. 

On Sept. 29, 2008 against East, Ball toted the ball 11 times for 169 yards and two scores in Timberland's 57-6 win. Later in the season, on Oct. 24, Ball torched South for 159 yards on 10 carries. He scored four times in the Wolves 42-0 win. 

According to ESPN, there are five finalists for the trophy, which will be awarded Saturday in New York.

The finalists are:

• Ball, University of Wisconsin
• Tyrann Mathieu, Louisiana State University cornerback
• Trent Richardson, Alabama running back
• Andrew Luck, Stanford quarterback
• Robert Griffin III, Baylor quarterback