Tony Ball's stay as the veteran of Mark Richt's football staff at Georgia was brief.
The receivers coach of the Bulldogs was hired Friday for the same role at LSU. Ball replaces Adam Henry, who left last weekend to oversee receivers with the San Francisco 49ers.
"Tony is a very talented coach who is an SEC veteran," LSU coach Les Miles said in a release. "He's going to be a real asset for us in the passing game. He's going to be able to come in and take our group of receivers and develop them into great players.
"We are excited about having him join our staff."
Ball came to Georgia in 2006 as the running backs coach and immediately helped develop Knowshon Moreno, who redshirted in '06 before amassing 2,734 yards in the 2007 and '08 seasons and was a first-round pick of the Denver Broncos. Ball moved to receivers coach in 2009 and continued the development of A.J. Green, the No. 4 overall selection in the 2011 NFL draft and an eventual All-Pro performer for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Marlon Brown, Tavarres King and former Calhoun (Ga.) High standout Kris Durham also played under Ball before going on to the NFL.
Ball, 55, grew up in Chattanooga and was a standout at Brainerd High School and UTC. He played for the Mocs under Joe Morrison and led the nation in 1977 with an average of 36.4 yards on kickoff returns.
UTC named Ball to its All-Century Team and inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2003.
Ball returned to UTC as receivers coach in 1988 and again in 1990 and '91. He spent three seasons as Louisville's receivers coach and eight years as Virginia Tech's receivers coach before coming to Georgia.
The departure of offensive coordinator Mike Bobo in late December for the head-coaching vacancy at Colorado State left Ball as the veteran assistant in Athens. Acquiring that label now is tight ends coach John Lilly, who was hired in January 2008.
Smith picks Georgia
The Bulldogs picked up a belated in-state 2015 commitment Friday from Roquan Smith, a 6-foot-2, 205-pounder from Montezuma. The nation's No. 5 outside linebacker and No. 47 overall prospect according to 247Sports.com signed a financial aid agreement but has not signed a letter of intent and may not for several more weeks.
Smith committed to UCLA last Wednesday on ESPNU but did not sign after learning that Bruins defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was leaving for the Atlanta Falcons.
"As you could imagine, it's been tough lately," Smith posted Friday on his Instagram account, "but I am relieved to say that I am officially committed to the University of Georgia 100 percent."
Smith, who had 173 tackles, 26 tackles for loss with three defensive touchdowns this past season, could give the Bulldogs as many as 30 scholarship freshmen when the newcomers report in August.
Dowdell commits
Georgia already is up to five commitments for the 2016 class, receiving a pledge Friday from Aaron Dowdell of Creekside, Ga. The 6-5, 290-pounder is rated by 247Sports as the nation's No. 19 guard.
Previously committing to Georgia's 2016 class were tackle Ben Cleveland of Toccoa, Ga.; quarterback Jacob Eason of Lake Stevens, Wash.; running back B.J. Emmons of Morganton, N.C.; and defensive end Chauncey Manac of Homerville, Ga.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.