a compact, physical interior defender who earned snaps at Illinois
Ballew was a 6-foot-1, 310-pound defensive lineman for Illinois who worked into game action over multiple seasons, appearing in every game in 2008 and nine games in 2009 while recording tackles at Indiana and Purdue. His value profile is built less on eye-popping production and more on size, interior sturdiness, and depth-piece reliability—traits that matter on a defensive front. For a team, he fits as a rotational DL who can help absorb blocks and bring toughness, though his career statistical footprint suggests he was more of a role player than a headline disruptor.
