Round 7: Texans select Lonnie Ballentine as Mr. Irrelevant
Oct 20, 2012; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Tigers wide receiver
Breshad Perriman(81) is tackled by UCF Knights defensive backs
Lonnie Ballentine(4) and
Robert Steeples(22) at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. UCF defeated Memphis 35-17. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Texans selected Lonnie Ballentine with the final pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, completing the three-day event at Radio City Music Hall.
Ballentine (6-3, 219 pounds), a free safety from Memphis, was the 256th overall selection.
The NFL.com draft profile of Ballentine says of his strengths:
"“Exceptional size, length and closing speed. Can get over the top and leverage the field. Plays with emotion. Superb pro day workout, posting some sub-4.4-second 40 times and a 38-inch vertical jump. Flashes straight-line striking ability when he has a clean angle.”"
Ballentine could add some depth to this Texans defensive backfield, but also could help improve the Texans special teams like some others who have been drafted by the Texans late in this draft.
In his senior season, Ballentine recored 58 tackles (37 solo) with no sacks and no interceptions. For his career, the free safety collected 176 tackles (107 solo) with three career interceptions.
This pick isn’t much of a risk for the Texans, so maybe they’ll get a player who can contribute to the team in some way.
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