Kalen Ballage

Kalen Ballage (born December 22, 1995) is an American football running back for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arizona State and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He also previously played for the New York Jets.

Kalen Ballage
No. 31 – Los Angeles Chargers
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (1995-12-22) December 22, 1995
Peyton, Colorado
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:231 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school:Falcon High School (Falcon, CO)
College:Arizona State
NFL Draft:2018 / Round: 4 / Pick: 131
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2020
Rushing yards:629
Rushing average:3.1
Rushing touchdowns:7
Receptions:52
Receiving yards:285
Receiving touchdowns:0
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

While attending Falcon High School in Falcon, Colorado, Ballage recorded a successful high school football career.[1] In three years on varsity, he rushed for 2,690 yards, while averaging 8.5 yards per carry and scored 35 rushing touchdowns, in addition to 671 receiving yards and 12 receiving touchdowns.[2] Ballage was recruited by major programs, including Michigan, Washington, and Nebraska. He committed to Arizona State on January 17, 2013.[3]

College career

As a freshman in 2014, Ballage had a combined 202 rushing and receiving yards, to go along with four total touchdowns. During his sophomore year, he had the first 100-yard rushing performance of his career against the Oregon Ducks.[2] As a junior, Ballage tied College Football's FBS single game touchdown record by scoring eight touchdowns against Texas Tech on September 10, 2016.[4] During his junior year, Ballage played the quarterback position while the team was in their version of the wildcat offense, known to ASU fans as the Sparky Package.[5][6] Ballage is known for his combination of speed and power.[7]

Collegiate statistics
Kalen Ballage Rushing Receiving
Year School Conf Class Pos G Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD
2014 Arizona State Pac-12 FR RB 11 42 126 3.0 3 6 64 10.7 1
2015 Arizona State Pac-12 SO RB 10 125 653 5.2 4 12 60 5.0 0
2016 Arizona State Pac-12 JR RB 12 126 536 4.3 14 44 469 10.7 1
2017 Arizona State Pac-12 SR RB 13 157 669 4.3 6 20 91 4.6 0
Career Arizona State 46 450 1,984 4.4 27 82 684 8.3 2

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand size 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1 1⁄2 in
(1.87 m)		 228 lb
(103 kg)		 32 3⁄4 in
(0.83 m)		 9 1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)		 4.46 s 4.35 s 6.91 s 33.5 in
(0.85 m)		 10 ft 2 in
(3.10 m)		 15 reps
All values from NFL Combine[8]

Miami Dolphins

Ballage was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round with the 131st overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, using the fourth round pick previously acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in a trade that sent Jay Ajayi to Philadelphia.[9] In Week 4, against the New England Patriots, he made his NFL debut and recorded a three-yard rush in the 38–7 loss.[10] In Week 15, against the Minnesota Vikings, he saw an expanded role with 12 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown.[11] Overall, he finished his rookie season with 191 rushing yards and a touchdown.[12]

Ballage entered the 2019 season as the No. 2 running back behind Kenyan Drake. He was placed on injured reserve on December 3, 2019 with a leg injury.[13] He finished the season with 135 rushing yards and three touchdowns along with 14 catches for 63 yards through 12 games and six starts.[14]

On August 27, 2020, the Dolphins attempted to trade Ballage to the New York Jets for a 2021 conditional seventh-round draft pick,[15] but the trade was voided three days later after he failed a physical with the Jets.[16] He was waived with an injury settlement on September 5, 2020.[17]

New York Jets

On September 15, 2020, Ballage was signed by the New York Jets.[18] He was waived on October 5.[19]

Los Angeles Chargers

On October 9, 2020, Ballage was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad.[20] He was elevated to the active roster on November 7 for the team's week 9 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[21] He was promoted to the active roster on November 14.[22]

References
  1. "Kalen Ballage, former Falcon High star, selected by Miami Dolphins in fourth round of NFL draft". The Denver Post. April 28, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  2. Kalen Ballage. "Kalen Ballage – 2014 Football Roster – TheSunDevils.com | Arizona State University Athletics". TheSunDevils.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  3. Kalen Ballage (February 6, 2014). "Kalen Ballage – Football Recruiting – Player Profiles". ESPN. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  4. "ASU's Kalen Ballage scores 8 touchdowns to tie NCAA record". NFL.com. September 11, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  5. "Arizona State's 'Sparky' formation grows through injury issues". Azcentral.com. November 3, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  7. "ASU's Kalen Ballage: Don't judge a back by his size". Azcentral.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  8. "Kalen Ballage Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  9. "Miami Dolphins 2018 draft results: Second 4th round selection has Miami adding Kalen Ballage". ThePhinsider.com. April 28, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  10. "Dolphins' Kalen Ballage: Active for first time Week 4". CBSSports.com. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  11. "Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings – December 16th, 2018". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  12. "Kalen Ballage 2018 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  13. "Dolphins Awarded Trevor Davis, Zach Zenner". MiamiDolphins.com. December 3, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  14. "Kalen Ballage 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  15. Cimini, Rich (August 27, 2020). "Dolphins trade RB Kalen Ballage to AFC East rival Jets". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  16. Cimini, Rich (August 30, 2020). "Jets void Kalen Ballage deal, lose La'Mical Perine to injury". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  17. "Dolphins Acquire Lynn Bowden, Make Roster Moves". MiamiDolphins.com. September 5, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  18. Allen, Eric (September 16, 2020). "Jets Place RB Le'Veon Bell, WR Denzel Mims and ILB Blake Cashman on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  19. Greenberg, Ethan (October 5, 2020). "Jets Sign QB Mike White to Practice Squad, Release RB Kalen Ballage". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  20. "Austin Ekeler Placed on Injured Reserve". Chargers.com. October 9, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  21. "Los Angeles Chargers Make Roster Moves". Chargers.com. November 7, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  22. "Los Angeles Chargers Sign Kalen Ballage to Active Roster; Place Justin Jackson on Injured Reserve". Chargers.com. November 14, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
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