2023 SEASON: Played in 14 games with a career-high six starts and recorded a career-best 39 tackles (27 solo), an interception and a career-high seven passes defensed (No. 2 on the team)…Was tied for No. 4 on the team in special teams tackles (four)…Appeared in both postseason contests, recording five tackles (four solo)…Was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster in Weeks 3-5…Was signed to the active roster from the practice squad on Oct. 25…Vs. New Orleans (Sept. 24): Played 30 snaps on defense, recording four tackles (all solo) and a pass defensed…At Pittsburgh (Nov. 12): Made his first career start as a Packer in place of injured CB Jaire Alexander (shoulder) and played all 65 snaps on defense, recording six tackles (three solo) and a career-high two passes defensed. Forced an incompletion to WR Diontae Johnson on third-and-2 to force Pittsburgh to punt with under two minutes to play in the first half. Defended another pass to Johnson, this one a deep shot on the Steelers' first drive of the second half, and Pittsburgh ended the drive with a punt…Vs. L.A. Chargers (Nov. 19): Played every snap on defense (65), recording five tackles (four solo) and a pass defensed. Broke up a pass on second-and-3 intended for WR Quentin Johnston in the second quarter…At Detroit (Nov. 23): Saw action on all 84 snaps on defense and recorded seven tackles (six solo). Also logged one snap on special teams…Vs. Kansas City (Dec. 3): Played all 67 snaps on defense, posting a career-high 10 tackles (five solo)…At N.Y. Giants (Dec. 11): Started for the fifth consecutive game and played 55 of 56 snaps, posting a solo tackle…At Minnesota (Dec. 31): Started and played all 53 snaps on defense, recording five tackles (four solo), his first career interception and a career-high three passes defensed. Snagged his first career INT when he caught a ball that tipped off the hands of TE Johnny Mundt, and two plays later Green Bay's offense found the end zone. Two of his three passes defensed came while matched up with WR Justin Jefferson, breaking up a pass intended for Jefferson late in the first quarter and again late in the fourth quarter…At Dallas (NFC Wild Card, Jan. 14): Logged 43 snaps on defense after replacing an injured Alexander (ankle) in the third quarter, recording five tackles (four solo).
2022: Appeared in the final eight games for the Packers after being signed to the active roster from the practice squad on Nov. 12…Posted an assisted tackle on defense and four tackles and a forced fumble on special teams…Vs. Dallas (Nov. 13): Appeared on four defensive snaps and 14 on special teams in his Green Bay debut. Registered a tackle on special teams and forced a fumble on a second-quarter kickoff return, one that Dallas recovered at its own 34…At Philadelphia (Nov. 27): Appeared on one defensive snap and on 17 special teams snaps, recording a tackle and downing a 41-yard P Pat O'Donnell punt at the Philadelphia 14 early in the third quarter…At Chicago (Dec. 4): Played on 12 special teams snaps and posted a tackle…Vs. Minnesota (Jan. 1): Appeared on 12 defensive snaps, posting his first tackle (assisted) on the season…Vs. Detroit (Jan. 8): Played on 12 snaps on special teams and registered a tackle.
2021: Started the season on injured reserve with the Jets (knee, Aug. 24) before being released and claimed off waivers by the Lions on Sept. 16…Appeared in four contests on special teams for Detroit on the season…Saw action in Weeks 3-5 before being placed on injured reserve on Oct. 15 (hamstring)…Was released on Nov. 19 and then was signed to the Lions' practice squad on Nov. 23…Was activated to the active roster as a COVID-19 replacement for Detroit's game at Denver (Dec. 12).
2020: Appeared in 15 games with two starts for the Giants (nine games/two starts) and Jets (six games)…Finished with 10 tackles (eight solo) on defense and a career-best 10 special teams tackles…Set career highs in kickoff returns (21), kickoff return yards (505) and kickoff-return long (66) and finished No. 7 in the NFL with a kickoff return average of 24.0…Vs. Pittsburgh (Sept. 14): Started and played 59 of 64 defensive snaps, posting a season-high nine tackles (seven solo). Assisted DT Leonard Williams on a tackle of RB James Conner for a 1-yard loss on a first-quarter run…Vs. Washington (Oct. 18): Registered a career-high three tackles on special teams…At Seattle (Dec. 13): Posted a career-high 100 return yards on three kickoffs (33.3 avg.), including a career-long 66-yarder that gave the offense the ball at the Seahawks' 30-yard line early in the second quarter…Vs. Cleveland (Dec. 27): Matched his career high with a team-best three tackles on special teams.
2019: Appeared in 13 games for the Giants with two starts and finished with 25 tackles (20 solo), a QB hit, two passes defensed and a special teams tackle…Added 10 kickoff returns for 256 yards (25.6 avg.) with a long of 52 yards…Was sidelined for three contests (Weeks 7-8, 14) due to a concussion…Vs. Minnesota (Oct. 6): Returned two kickoffs for a season-high 76 yards (38.0 avg.), including a season-long return of 52 yards out to midfield early in the second quarter…Vs. Dallas (Nov. 4): Posted the first four tackles (three solo) of his career and a pass defensed…At N.Y. Jets (Nov. 10): Made his first career start and posted two tackles (both solo)…At Chicago (Nov. 24): Started and played 61 of 73 defensive snaps, logging a season-high nine tackles (eight solo)…2019 Draft: Selected by the Giants in the sixth round (No. 180 overall), becoming just the fourth player from Washburn to be drafted.
COLLEGE: Played in 46 games with 29 starts in four seasons at Washburn, totaling 186 tackles (113 solo), 10 tackles for a loss, five interceptions, 21 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries…Finished his career ranked No. 2 in school history in blocked kicks (four) and No. 5 in kickoff return average (24.8)…Owns school records in the indoor 60m (6.91), the indoor 200m (22.18), the outdoor 100m (10.51) and the outdoor 200m (21.25)…Was a six-time member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Academic Honor Roll between football and track and field…Majored in business…2018: Named the Cliff Harris Award winner as the small-college defensive player of the year and was the first player from Washburn and one of only three NCAA Division II players to be selected for the 2019 Reese's Senior Bowl…Earned second-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association…Earned first-team All-MIAA recognition at defensive back and third-team honors as a return specialist…Started all 11 games and finished the season with 50 tackles (28 solo), a career-high three INTs, two forced fumbles, three blocked kicks (two field goals, one extra point) and a 19.3-yard average on 24 kickoff returns…2017: Earned first-team All-MIAA honors as a return specialist and second-team All-MIAA recognition as a defensive back…Started all 12 games, averaging 30.6 yards on 23 kickoff returns, which led the MIAA and was No. 5 in the nation…Added 54 tackles (35 solo), a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries…Posted a 33.8-yard average on four kickoff returns at Missouri Western (Oct. 28), highlighted by a 54-yarder, one of his three returns on the season of 50-plus yards…2016: Played in 12 games with six starts, earning All-MIAA honorable mention after posting a career-high 65 tackles (43 solo), including 6½ tackles for a loss, two INTs and a forced fumble…Also led the Ichabod special teams with 10 tackles, including nine on kickoff coverage…2015: Played in all 11 games as a redshirt freshman, recording 17 tackles (seven solo)…Named the Ichabod special teams player of the week after the games at Lindenwood (Sept. 3), vs. Missouri Southern State (Sept. 26) and at Fort Hays State (Oct. 3).
PERSONAL: Given name Corey Ballentine...Last name is pronounced bal-en-tine...Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica…High school: Was a two-sport star at Shawnee Heights High School (Tecumseh, Kan.), where he played football for just his junior and senior seasons…Recorded the nine fastest times in the 60m in school history and the six fastest times in the indoor 200m…Holds school records in the outdoor 100m (10.51), and outdoor 200m (21.25)…Was part of the state champion 4x400m relay team and finished No. 2 in the 4x100m relay team in the state meet as a junior…Community involvement: When he was with the Giants, set up and served lunch at Eva's Village in Paterson, N.J., with fellow rookie teammates.
