Nilijah Ballew

Liberty

Sep 13 (Sat)

5 p.m.

Photo by: BGSU Marketing and Communications

Position:
Defensive Back
Height:
6-0
Weight:
204
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Cincinnati, Ohio
High School:
Walnut Hills

2017: Played in all 12 games, starting one time … Made 29 tackles, of which 21 were solo … Had a career-high 14 tackles against South Dakota in his lone start of the season … Added three tackles each at Kent State and at Eastern Michigan.

2016: Played in all 12 games, earning a start against Middle Tennessee State … Had 18 tackles on the season, including 2.0 for loss … Had a season-best five tackles in his lone start against MTSU … Had tackles for loss at Ohio and at Northern Illinois.

2015: Played in all 14 games for the Falcons … played at outside linebacker after beginning his career as a safety … made 38 tackles (20 ua, 18 a) … had 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sack … had a season-high eight tackles and a sack against UMass … also had a fumble recovery and pass breakup in that game … registered seven tackles and 1.5 TFLs in the win at Purdue … had two quarterback hurries and two pass breakups on the season.

2014: Played in 10 games, recorded a season high four tackles at UMass on Sep. 27 … ended the season with eight total tackles, six unassisted and two assisted … had one broken up pass in two games; those being UMass on Sep. 27 and vs. Buffalo on Oct. 4.

High School: A 2014 graduate of Cincinnati Walnut Hills ... lettered two seasons on varsity ... had 93 tackles during his senior season to go along with one interception and one fumble recovery ... was first team All-Conference and first team All-Southwest Ohio ... named second team All-Ohio and was Walnut Hills MVP and defensive MVP ... coached by George Kontsis ... captain.

Personal: Full name is Nilijah Wanya Ballew ... son of Michael Jones and Kelley Ballew ... born on Oct. 16, 1995 ... has two sisters ... majoring in communications.