Alabama redshirt senior defensive end Dakota Ball is out of the Peach Bowl against Washington after a shooting accident has resulted in the complete loss of his left index finger, per AL.com (H/T CBS):
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"I shot my finger off with a 12-gauge shotgun," he said, according to AL.com. "It's completely gone. I shot it right at the knuckle and blew it off.
"I was tying a rope around the barrel and around the stock to keep the shotgun from falling out of my lap," Ball said. "I was tying rope around the barrel and it just went off. I didn't have my hand on the trigger."
Ball has been a rotation player along the defensive line this season after spending last year as a tight end/h-back.
He has 12 tackles on the year, with one for a loss and 0.5 sacks.
After playing one game as a redshirt freshman, Ball played in 12 games as a sophomore at tight end. He was mostly a reserve player/blocker during his junior year, but did register two starts at tight end.
He was recruited as a three-star player out of Lindale, Georgia.
Alabama plays No. 4 Washington in the semifinal of the College Football Playoffs Saturday, December 31, at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN.
