Ballard Leads South in Ohio Army National Guard Senior Bowl

Defensive back Isaiah Ballard registered a team-high 10 tackles to go along with a forced fumble and fumble recovery to help lead the North All-Stars as they fell 21-7 to the South All-Stars in the Ohio Army National Guard Senior Bowl, which was hosted at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

The first team all-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) pick also returned one kick for 35 yards and had three punt returns for seven yards in the victory.

A second team all-region pick by Daktronics, Ballard finished the 2011 season with 96 total tackles, which included 67 solo stops.  He also led the conference as well as the nation in forced fumbles with six.

The Toledo, Ohio native and first team all-Ohio College Football pick, also added two interceptions and four fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

As a return man, Ballard averaged 28.2 yards per kick return, the second best mark in the GLIAC and the 11th best average in the nation.