Kentwan Balmer, 2008 NFL Draft Prospect
 | Defensive Tackle 6' 4" 308 lbs. Speed: 5.28 North Carolina Senior |
Probably one of the most unheralded defensive NFL Prospects in the nation, Kentwan Balmer was moved permanently inside to defensive tackle for his senior year. After fighting through a high ankle sprain during his junior year, Balmer had a break out senior campaign to close out the 2007 season and emerg as a top flight 2008 NFL Draft Prospect. Balmer was a 2nd team NFL Draft Dog All-American, honorable mention All-America by Pro Football Weekly, was named second-team All-ACC and is headed to the Senior Bowl and Hula Bowl.
Balmer has been on NFL Draft Expert Mel Kiper's 2008 NFL Draft Big Board all season, but remember, Kiper's big board doesn't include juniors, so with all of these flashy juniors declaring for the 2008 NFL Draft, Balmer will likely fall into the 2nd or maybe even 3rd round. Very strong and quick and well coached by defensive guru Butch Davis, Balmer would be great value after the first round. He was very productive in 2007 finishing second on the team with 59 tackles, 9.5 tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks and 4 QB hurries.
Balmer finished his junior season (2006) with 16 total tackle (14 solo) 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups and 1 quarterback hurry. His stats don’t make him sound to impressive, but he wasn’t 100% last year and only started the final eight games. He made his first start against Miami at defensive tackle last year and seemed to really excel on the inside. Balmer has the talent when healthy to make an impact.
As a sophomore in 2005 Balmer played in all 11 games and even started at defensive end the final three. Despite limited action he finished with 17 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 5 quarterback hurries. In 2004 he was the only true freshman on the roster to see action.
Balmer was a prize recruit coming out of high school, he was a member of the North Carolina Shrine Bowl Team and finished his senior season with 113 tackles, 12 sacks, eight pass breakups and six fumble recoveries. Balmer has the size and ability to play defensive end or tackle and should really shine at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine, that could easily propel him into the first two rounds of the 2008 NFL Draft.
Update: One of the few possible first round defensive tackle prospects is North Carolina’s Kentwan Balmer, he had a solid workout at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine, nothing special, but I don’t think he hurt his draft stock too much. Balmer measured in at 6’ 4” 308 pounds and ran a 5.28 forty; however his 33 reps on the bench were impressive. His production in 2007 was also impressive, ranking 2nd on the team in tackles with 59 and an additional 9.5 tackles for loss (TFL), 3.5 sacks and 4 quarterback hurries (QBH).