Ichabod and T-Bird Product Corey Ballentine Drafted By Giants
Washburn’s Corey Ballentine became the sixth Ichabod to have his name called during the NFL Draft as the New York Giants selected Ballentine with the seventh pick in the sixth round and the 180th overall pick. Ballentine is the first Ichabod to be drafted since Cary Williams was a seventh round selection of the Tennessee Titans during the 2008 draft. He is the highest NFL Draft pick in Washburn history.
Ballentine is the third Ichabod under head coach Craig Schurig to be selected joining Williams and Trey Lewis who was a sixth round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2007.
What did @ESPN and Kiper and Riddick say about @wusports @IchabodFTBL @cbxiii__ pic.twitter.com/jkn6TSdo8E
— Jake Lebahn (@JakeLebahn) April 27, 2019
Ballentine’s Bio
At Washburn: For his career he appeared in 46 games tallying 186 tackles with 113 solo stops and 10 tackles for loss adding the four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and had five interceptions. … a six-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll between football and track and field … finished his career second all-time in blocked kicks with four and his 24.81 yards per kickoff return ranks fifth all-time on the Ichabod charts. He also forced four fumbles and recorded 1,166 career kickoff return yards which is seventh at Washburn … a standout member of the Ichabod track and field team where he owns the school record in the indoor 60m (6.91), indoor 200m (22.18) recording the nine fastest times in the 60m in school history and the six fastest times in the indoor 200m … holds school record in the outdoor 100m (10.51), outdoor 200m (21.25) and has eight of the fastest 10 times in the 100m and the top six times in the outdoor 200m in school history.
In 2018: Named the Cliff Harris Award winner for the small college defensive player of the year and was the first Ichabod and one of only three NCAA Division II players to be selected for the 2019 Reese’s Senior Bowl … a first team Don Hansen Football Gazette All-American selection at defensive back … he was also selected second team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association … selected first team all-MIAA at defensive back and third team at return specialist this season … he finished with 50 tackles as a senior and had three interceptions with two forced fumbles adding three blocked kicks … as a return specialist this season en route to third team honors, he was 10th in the MIAA in kick returns averaging 19.0 yards a return.
In 2017: Named first team all-MIAA and third team Football Gazette All-American as a return specialist and second team all-MIAA as a defensive back starting all 12 games … averaged 30.6 yards per kickoff return on 23 attempts which was fifth in the nation per return leading the MIAA … was 10th in the nation in fumbles recovered with three while forcing a fumble … defensively he was sixth on the team in tackles with 54 including 35 solo stops recording a season-high eight tackles against Northwest Missouri State … a combined seven-time Ichabod player of the week selection with five of those coming on special teams … a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll … as a member of the Ichabod track and field team he has recorded eight of the top 10 fastest times in the 100m dash and the top six fastest times in the 200m dash … in indoor action, he has the top 10 fastest times in the 60m dash and the top six fastest times in the 200m dash.
In 2016: Earned all-MIAA honors after finishing third on the team in solo tackles with 43 overall finishing with 65 total tackles including 6.5 for loss for 21 yards … had a career high nine tackles against Missouri Western on homecoming … led the Ichabod special teams in tackles with 10 including nine on kickoff coverage … a two-time defensive skill player of the week and received the Big Hit award five times … a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll … as a member of the Ichabod track and field team he recorded seven of the top 10 times in the 100m dash with a best of 10.51 and the top five times in school history in the 200m with a best of 21.25 … finished fifth at the Kansas Relays in the 100m dash and he has three of the top five times in the 60m dash in school history.
In 2015: Appeared in all 11 games as a redshirt freshman recording 17 tackles with seven solo stops … named the Ichabod special teams player of the week after the Missouri Southern, Fort Hays State and Lindenwood games … a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
In 2014: Sat out the season as a redshirt … named work team defensive player of the week prior to the Fort Hays State game.
Background: Played football his junior and senior seasons … participated in track and was part of the state champion 4x400m relay team and finished second in the 4x100m relay team in the state meet as a junior … as a sophomore was part of the state championship 4x400m relay team.
Personal: Son of Karl and Denise Vaughn … majoring in business.
Washburn NFL Draft History
The Washburn Ichabods have had six players who have heard their names called in the National Football League annual draft. The most recent was Cary Williams in 2008 to the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round.
Prior to Stedman’s going to the Chiefs, Bill Baker and Ed Schneider both were selected by the New York Giants in the 1954 and 1944 drafts respectively.
Year Round Pick Player# Name Team Position
2019 6 7 180 Corey Ballentin Giants Defensive Back
2008 7 22 229 Cary Williams Titans Defensive Back
2007 6 11 185 Trey Lewis Falcons Defensive Tackle
1988 7 5 170 Troy Stedman Chiefs Linebacker
1954 25 3 292 Bill Baker Giants Halfback
1944 17 5 169 Ed Schneider Giants Tackle
