Arizona State’s Kalen Ballage could still go Day 2 in NFL Draft

Coming into his senior season, Kalen Ballage was seen by ESPN writer Todd McShay as the sixth-best running back prospect for the upcoming NFL Draft. However, after a relatively uneventful final season, Ballage doesn’t even find himself in the first three rounds of McShay’s latest mock draft.

Despite Ballage’s low production in his senior season, the running back’s impressive NFL combine and Senior Bowl performance earned himself a spot in Mel Kiper’s three-round mock draft.

In Kiper’s mock draft, Ballage ends up being selected by the New England Patriots in the third round with the No. 95 overall pick.

Ballage is a big, athletic back who had 64 catches over the past two seasons, so he fits what New England likes.

The Patriots may not be the only team interested in the Arizona State running back though. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Seattle Seahawks sent top decision makers to ASU Tuesday to privately work out Ballage, Texas A&M wide receiver Christian Kirk and Houston quarterback Kyle Allen.

While Ballage did catch 44 passes, accumulate 1,005 total yards and score 15 total touchdowns his junior year, including a historic eight-touchdown game, his numbers dramatically dropped his senior season. Last year Ballage caught 20 passes for 91 yards while also running for 669 yards and six touchdowns.

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