CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- In an attempt to add depth at safety and special teams, the Carolina Panthers on Thursday signed Marcus Ball.

Ball (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) started two games and played in 12 for New Orleans last season. He had 12 tackles on defense and nine on special teams.

Prior to that he spent two seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts.

Ball signed a three-year deal with New Orleans but was released on May 4 to make room for undrafted rookies.

The Panthers released safety Kimario McFadden to make room for Ball.

Ball began his college career at Florida State, but in 2009 the Georgia native was among 61 student-athletes reportedly caught up in an academic fraud scandal.

Ball reportedly gave up his scholarship, quit the team and went to Pearl River Community College for a season before transferring to Memphis.