| Kentwan Balmer |
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• 2007 Pro Football Weekly Honorable-Mention All-America
2007 - Senior Season
Team captain • One of top defensive linemen in the ACC • Ranked No. 7 on Mel Kiper's Big Board of top NFL senior prospects • Played in the Senior Bowl • Started 11 games this season and 22 in his career • Ranked second on the team and second among ACC defensive tackles with 59 tackles • Also had 9.5 tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks • Had four tackles, two tackles for loss and an 8-yard sack in the win over Duke • Posted six stops at Georgia Tech • Had two tackles, a sack and a quarterback hurry at NC State • Had an outstanding game in the win over Maryland, including four tackles, a sack and a quarterback hurry on the Terps' final play of the game • Made three stops at Wake Forest •Had seven tackles and one tackle for loss against No. 7 South Carolina • Recorded four tackles in the win over Miami • Posted seven tackles and had 1.5 tackles for losses of six yards at Virginia Tech • Had six tackles against No. 23 South Florida • Was back in the starting lineup vs. Virginia and posted four tackles, including two solo stops • Did not start against ECU due to a foot injury sustained in that week's practice, but entered the game on the second defensive series • Had a career-high seven tackles, including 1.5 tackles for losses of eight yards • Teammed with Hilee Taylor on a sack of ECU's Patrick Pinkney • Earned the coaches co-defensive player of the week honors for his play in Carolina's 37-14 victory over James Madison • Posted five tackles, including three solo stops, and had 1.5 tackles for losses.
2006 - Junior Season
Played in 10 games and started the final eight • Blocked two extra-point
attempts in a 45-44 win at Duke, including one with 2:49 remaining in the
game after the Blue Devils' final score • Also added a tackle and a pass
breakup against Duke • Made a 7-yard sack against NC State's Daniel Evans •
It was his lone stop of the day against the Wolfpack • Had three solo stops
against Georgia Tech • Played well at Notre Dame and assisted on a 7-yard
sack • Played most of the second half against Wake Forest with a sprained
right ankle • Started against Virginia and had two tackles, including a
7-yard sack • Started against USF and broke up one pass • Made his first
career start at defensive tackle against Miami and had one tackle • Posted
four tackles, all solo, against Clemson • Made two tackles against Rutgers •
Did not play against Furman and Virginia Tech due to a high ankle sprain.
2005 - Sophomore Season
Played in all 11 games and started the final three against Maryland, Duke
and Virginia Tech • Had 17 tackles, including five tackles for losses, one
sack, five quarterback hurries and one pass breakup • Posted three tackles,
including a tackle for loss, at Virginia Tech • Assisted on one tackle at
Miami • Had four stops, including 1.5 tackles for losses, in a 7-5 win over
Virginia • Registered three tackles at Louisville • Had one tackle in the
win over Utah • Posted two tackles and made his first career sack in the win
at NC State • Assisted on one tackle vs. Wisconsin • Posted two tackles,
including a tackle for loss, at Georgia Tech.
2004 - Freshman Season
One of 13 true freshmen to see action • Played in nine games at defensive
end • Had one tackle at Utah.
Weldon High School
Member of the North Carolina Shrine Bowl Team • Finished his senior season
with 113 tackles, 12 sacks, eight pass breakups and six fumble recoveries •
Helped lead Weldon to three shutouts in its first six games • As a junior,
recorded 103 tackles, 11 sacks and scored a defensive touchdown on a fumble
recovery • Earned all-conference and all-area honors in each of his last two
seasons • Named the 2003 All-Area Defensive Player of the Year • Coached by
Grady Williams.
Personal
Favorite football players as a kid were Lawrence Taylor and Reggie White •
His goal this year is to help the team get to a bowl game • His dream moment
is to pick off a pass • Says the best thing about being a football player at
Carolina is the tradition • Son of Charles and Christa Balmer • Born on
October 15, 1986 • African-American history and communications major.
Year Pri A Total TFL SACKS INT PBU FF FR
2004 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
2005 8 9 17 5.0-15 1.0-5 0 1 0 0
2006 14 2 16 2.5-21 2.5-21 0 2 0 0
2007 32 27 59 9.5-44 3.5-26 0 0 0 0
Totals 54 39 93 17.0-80 7.0-52 0 3 0 0
Career Highs: 7 tackles vs. East Carolina, vs. South Carolina (2007); 1 sack (four times)
