Eric Balch brings size, juice, and old-school edge to Tarleton’s linebacker room
In the 2026 season, Eric Balch enters Tarleton State as a 6-foot-3, 230-pound sophomore linebacker with a reputation built on production and disruption: his school bio lists 52 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 12 quarterback pressures, which screams impact player, not passenger. He also comes with a gritty backstory—he had two Division I offers that vanished late, and Tarleton’s profile notes he loves fishing, hunting, and training, suggesting a grounded, blue-collar mentality. If you need a linebacker who can finish plays and adds toughness to the room, he’s the kind of fit coaches usually smile about.
