RSS
|
|
Now he's battling for the top spot on the depth chart as a rising sophomore at North Carolina.
Balmer, who turns 19 in October, had what he called a rough freshman season last year when he made the transition from star to supporting cast member.
"Coming from being the man to being on the sideline most of the time and cheering other guys on and having little say so, that's tough for any person to deal with," he said Wednesday in the UNC football office's Hall of Honor. "Especially if you're a competitor."
But it was all part of a learning process.
"As the season wore on, I started getting used to being around the guys and coach (Brad) Lawing started gaining more faith in me," he said. "I started getting more minutes, more reps in practice. It made more humble and more hungry at the same time. If I want to be on the field, I'm going to have put in the work."
Balmer said he has been taking some classes over the summer while working out and polishing up on fundamental skills that will help him during the season. He saw his last bit of organized action in the squad's spring football game in April. Balmer, who played for the Blue team in a 17-13 win over the White team, said that as the team closed out the spring session he was the starter, but had no further insight on what his playing time situation looks like.
"It'll be interesting to see what happens," he said.
When Balmer graduated from Weldon in 2003, he indicated that he would attempt to try to walk on with the Tar Heels basketball team, much like his idol Julius Peppers did. Peppers, a former two-sport star at UNC, is a Pro Bowl defensive end for the Carolina Panthers.
Balmer said Wednesday that he wants to devote all of his energy towards establishing himself in football before he thinks about basketball, though he hasn't totally written it off. "Who doesn't want to wear that Carolina blue and white with the Jordan symbol on it?," he said.
The walk on situation puts Balmer in a tight spot with two of his former coaches, Weldon basketball coach Donnell Handsome and football coach Grady Williams. "I feel like if I don't try, it'll be a disappointment to coach Handsome and I feel like if I do try then coach Grady will try to kill me."
Balmer has managed to get in some pickup games with some of the Tar Heels basketball players, including Quentin Thomas, Reyshawn Terry, Byron Sanders, David Noel, and even former Tar Heel Joseph Forte.
"The players feel like I could play with them," he said. "They respect my game and I respect theirs. They think I could help with the depth they have, they really could use me." North Carolina lost the top seven scorers from last season's national championship team.
Balmer, who was an East-West All-Star basketball player as a senior, has not spoke with any of his football coaches about walking on, but he says they are aware of it. "I'm going to put all my heart and soul into football, because that's what got me and here and that's what's going to keep me here," he said. "But basketball is always something in the back of my mind. I'd love to do that."
During his freshman season, Balmer developed a friendship with Henderson native Jason Brown, a fourth round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens in April's NFL draft.
"He kind of took me under his wing," Balmer said of Brown, who played at Northern Vance. "Sometimes I'd be walking home from the games, he'd come by and pick me up. We'd talk for an hour, an hour and 15 minutes at a time." Balmer said Brown really respected the fact that he too hailed from a small area.
Players from those small areas are sometimes overlooked by Division I-A college scouts. Balmer, who stands 6-foot-5 1/2 and weighs between 275 and 280 pounds, is proud to be part of a group of former local athletes - Darrius Massenburg (UNC), Jud Dunlevy (Virginia Tech), Brian "Chip" Cross (N. C. State), Tielor Robinson (Duke) - that are or will be playing ACC football. "Just because we're from a small area doesn't mean we can't play," he said. "I'm real proud of all those guys. I'm proud of where I'm from."
When Tar Heels head coach John Bunting visited Roanoke Rapids in December, he said that he expected Balmer to become an All-ACC caliber player by his senior year. Balmer is ready to live up to those expectations, and feels the Tar Heels are ready to compete in an Atlantic Coast Conference that will feature 12 teams this season, including new member Boston College.
"I feel like if he's (Bunting) bold enough to put it out there, that's enough for me to make those standards," he said. "I'm going to work as hard as I can to be the best that I can. They say if you put in the work, you'll reap the benefits and that's what I'm trying to do.
"We proved we can play against the Miami's, the Virginia Tech's. It's not about talent. It's about how far we can go mentally. Our potential is unlimited. If all of us get on the same page, watch out ACC."
Sports Editor Rodney D. Pierce can be reached at 537-2505 ext. 241 or rodneypierce@charter.net.
Comments