Corey Ballentine

BIOGRAPHY

Corey Ballentine was born on April 13th, 1996 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. At the tender age of six, he migrated with his family to the United States, settling in the heartland state of Kansas. His early life was marked by his enrolment at Shawnee Heights and Washburn where he began his sporting journey, excelling in both track and football and setting several records in various indoor and outdoor sprint events.

As he grew older, Ballentine’s passion for football took precedence over his other sporting interests, with his skills seeing him primarily playing on defense but also serving as a kick returner for the Shawnee Heights High School team. As his talents developed, his hard work was rewarded with an invitation to play college football for Division II Washburn.

During his time at Washburn, Ballentine showed an exceptional commitment to his craft. He played in a total of 46 games, even after considering quitting the team before his freshman year. He made an impressive contribution to his team both on and off the field. He also blocked four field goals, adding another layer of skill to his repertoire. His athletic prowess culminated in him receiving the Cliff Harris Award after his senior season, an accolade bestowed annually to the best defensive player in the country from small colleges. In addition, he was named a second-team AFCA All-American in 2018, solidifying his place among the nation’s top college football players.

Post-college, Ballentine was invited to the 2019 Senior Bowl which threw him into the limelight due to his exceptional speed. His performance at the bowl, combined with his performance at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, landed him in the sixth round (180th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft where he was picked by the New York Giants.

During his stint with the Giants, Ballentine demonstrated remarkable perseverance, but his time with the team was tumultuous and he was waived in November 2020. However, he quickly rebounded, being claimed off waivers by the New York Jets the very next day. His stint with the Jets was fraught with injuries that resulted in him being placed on injured reserve and later released in September 2021.

Undaunted by setbacks, Ballentine’s career continued as he was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions in September 2021. Despite being placed on injured reserve and later waived, his time with the Lions saw him demonstrate resilience, getting activated and re-signed to the practice squad. In 2022, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Atlanta Falcons but was later waived.

Not one to be deterred, Ballentine was signed to the practice squad of the Arizona Cardinals in September 2022 and then the Green Bay Packers later that same month. Showing his tenacity, he was promoted to the Packers’ active roster in November. His relationship with the Packers strengthened as he re-signed for successive seasons through to 2024.

A tragic incident occurred, casting a shadow over Ballentine’s rising football career. In the early hours of April 28, 2019, just after the conclusion of the 2019 NFL Draft, he was injured in a shooting incident in Topeka while attending a party off-campus. His college roommate and fellow defensive backfield teammate, Dwane Simmons, was fatally injured during the same incident.

Despite the challenges he faced, both personal and professional, Corey Ballentine has shown remarkable dedication, strength, and resilience. He illustrates how obstacles can be transformed into opportunities and serves as an inspirational figure in the world of professional football.