Corey Ballentine

• Last name is pronounced bal-en-tine.
• After spending six weeks on Green Bay's practice squad last season, was signed to the active roster and played in the final eight games for the Packers in 2022.
• Prior to joining the Packers, the former sixth-round pick played for the N.Y. Giants (2019-20), N.Y. Jets (2020) and Detroit Lions (2021) while spending the 2022 offseason and training camp with the Atlanta Falcons.
• In his first four NFL seasons, recorded 36 tackles (28 solo), two passes defensed and a QB hit as well as 15 tackles and a forced fumble on special teams. Also returned 36 kickoffs for 855 yards (23.8 avg.) with a long of 66 yards. 
• Was one of only six players in the league to register a kickoff return of 50-plus yards in both 2019 and 2020.
• Named the Cliff Harris Award winner as the small college defensive player of the year as a senior and was the first player from Washburn and one of only three NCAA Division II players to be selected for the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl.

Pro Highlights:

• Appeared in the final eight games for Green Bay in 2022, recording four tackles on special teams and an assisted tackle on defense.
• In 2020, played for the Giants (nine games, two starts) and the Jets (six games), posting 21 kickoff returns for 505 yards (24.0 avg.) and 10 special teams tackles to become one of just six players from 2011-20 with 20-plus kickoff returns and 10-plus special teams tackles in the same season.
• Ranked No. 7 in the NFL in 2020 in kickoff return average (24.0), including a career-long 66-yard return.
• Was one of only six players in the league to register a kickoff return of 50-plus yards in both 2019 and 2020.
• As a rookie with the Giants in 2019, appeared in 13 games with two starts, registering a career-high 25 tackles (20 solo), a QB hit and two passes defensed as well as a tackle on special teams. Also returned 10 kickoffs for 256 yards (25.6 avg.) with a long of 52 yards.
• Was selected by the Giants in the sixth round (No. 180 overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft, becoming just the fourth player from Washburn University to be drafted.

2022 SEASON:Appeared in the final eight games for the Packers after being signed to the active roster from the practice squad on Nov. 12…Posted an assisted tackle on defense and four tackles and a forced fumble on special teams…Vs. Dallas (Nov. 13): Appeared on four defensive snaps and 14 on special teams in his Green Bay debut. Registered a tackle on special teams and forced a fumble on a second-quarter kickoff return, one that Dallas recovered at its own 34…At Philadelphia (Nov. 27): Appeared on one defensive snap and on 17 special teams snaps, recording a tackle and downing a 41-yard P Pat O'Donnell punt at the Philadelphia 14 early in the third quarter…At Chicago (Dec. 4):Played on 12 special teams snaps and posted a tackle…Vs. Minnesota (Jan. 1):Appeared on 12 defensive snaps, posting his first tackle (assisted) on the season…Vs. Detroit (Jan. 8): Played on 12 snaps on special teams and registered a tackle.

2021: Started the season on injured reserve with the Jets (knee, Aug. 24) before being released and claimed off waivers by the Lions on Sept. 16…Appeared in four contests on special teams for Detroit on the season…Saw action in Weeks 3-5 before being placed on injured reserve on Oct. 15 (hamstring)…Was released on Nov. 19 and then was signed to the Lions' practice squad on Nov. 23…Was activated to the active roster as a COVID-19 replacement for Detroit's game at Denver (Dec. 12).

2020: Appeared in 15 games with two starts for the Giants (nine games/two starts) and Jets (six games)…Finished with 10 tackles (eight solo) on defense and a career-best 10 special teams tackles…Set career highs in kickoff returns (21), kickoff return yards (505) and kickoff-return long (66) and finished No. 7 in the NFL with a kickoff return average of 24.0…Vs. Pittsburgh (Sept. 14): Started and played 59 of 64 defensive snaps, tying his career high with nine tackles (seven solo). Assisted DT Leonard Williams on a tackle of RB James Conner for a 1-yard loss on a first-quarter run…Vs. Washington (Oct. 18): Registered a career-high three tackles on special teams…At Seattle (Dec. 13): Posted a career-high 100 return yards on three kickoffs (33.3 avg.), including a career-long 66-yarder that gave the offense the ball at the Seahawks' 30-yard line early in the second quarter…Vs. Cleveland (Dec. 27): Matched his career high with a team-best three tackles on special teams.

2019: Appeared in 13 games for the Giants with two starts and finished with a career-high 25 tackles (20 solo), a QB hit, two passes defensed and a special teams tackle…Added 10 kickoff returns for 256 yards (25.6 avg.) with a long of 52 yards…Was sidelined for three contests (Weeks 7-8, 14) due to a concussion…Vs. Minnesota (Oct. 6): Returned two kickoffs for a season-high 76 yards (38.0 avg.), including a season-long return of 52 yards out to midfield early in the second quarter…Vs. Dallas (Nov. 4): Posted the first four tackles (three solo) of his career and a pass defensed…Vs. N.Y. Jets (Nov. 10): Made his first career start and posted two tackles (both solo)…At Chicago (Nov. 24): Started and played 61 of 73 defensive snaps, logging a career-high nine tackles (eight solo)…2019 Draft: Selected by the Giants in the sixth round (No. 180 overall), becoming just the fourth player from Washburn to be drafted.

COLLEGE: Played in 46 games with 29 starts in four seasons at Washburn, totaling 186 tackles (113 solo), 10 tackles for a loss, five interceptions, 21 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries…Finished his career ranked No. 2 in school history in blocked kicks (four) and No. 5 in kickoff return average (24.8)…Owns school records in the indoor 60m (6.91), the indoor 200m (22.18), the outdoor 100m (10.51) and the outdoor 200m (21.25)…Was a six-time member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Academic Honor Roll between football and track and field…Majored in business…Senior season (2018): Named the Cliff Harris Award winner as the small college defensive player of the year and was the first player from Washburn and one of only three NCAA Division II players to be selected for the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl…Earned second-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association…Earned first-team All-MIAA recognition at defensive back and third-team honors as a return specialist…Started all 11 games and finished the season with 50 tackles (28 solo), a career-high three INTs, two forced fumbles, three blocked kicks (two field goals, one extra point) and a 19.3-yard average on 24 kickoff returns…Registered a season-high seven tackles (five solo) and an INT and blocked a fourth-quarter field goal vs. Central Missouri (Sept. 22)…Posted six tackles (three solo), an INT that he returned 40 yards and two passes defensed vs. Emporia State (Oct. 27)…Junior season (2017): Earned first-team All-MIAA honors as a return specialist and second-team All-MIAA recognition as a defensive back…Started all 12 games, averaging 30.6 yards on 23 kickoff returns, which led the MIAA and was No. 5 in the nation…Added 54 tackles (35 solo), a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries…Registered seven tackles (three solo) and a pass defensed and blocked an extra point vs. Central Missouri (Oct. 21)…Posted a 33.8-yard average on four kickoff returns at Missouri Western (Oct. 28), highlighted by a 54-yarder, one of his three returns on the season of 50-plus yards…Sophomore season (2016): Played in 12 games with six starts, earning All-MIAA honorable mention after posting a career-high 65 tackles (43 solo), including 6½ tackles for a loss, two INTs and a forced fumble…Also led the Ichabod special teams with 10 tackles, including nine on kickoff coverage…Recorded eight tackles (six solo) and a career-best two INTs at Missouri Southern (Oct. 8)…Posted a career-high nine tackles (five solo) and a tackle for a loss vs. Missouri Western (Oct. 29)…Redshirt freshman season (2015): Played in all 11 games, recording 17 tackles (seven solo)…Named the Ichabod special teams player of the week after the games at Lindenwood (Sept. 3), vs. Missouri Southern State (Sept. 26) and at Fort Hays State (Oct. 3).

PERSONAL: Given name Corey Ballentine...Last name is pronounced bal-en-tine...Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica…High school: Was a two-sport star at Shawnee Heights High School (Tecumseh, Kan.), where he played football for just his junior and senior seasons…Recorded the nine fastest times in the 60m in school history and the six fastest times in the indoor 200m…Holds school records in the outdoor 100m (10.51), and outdoor 200m (21.25)…Finished fifth at the Kansas Relays in the 100m dash and posted three of the top five times in the 60m dash in school history…Was part of the state champion 4x400m relay team and finished No. 2 in the 4x100m relay team in the state meet as a junior…As a sophomore, was part of the state championship 4x400m relay team…Community involvement: When he was with the Giants, set up and served lunch at Eva's Village in Paterson, N.J., with fellow rookie teammates.