2006 (Junior)

Stepped right into the starting lineup as a heavily-favored transferred from USF • Nicknamed "Robin" as half of the Batman and Robin duo for the Wildcats linebacking core • Finished the campaign fifth on the team in total tackles with 50 on the season • Secured 21 solo stops for the year • Sixth on the team in tackles-for-loss with 6.5 for a total of 16 yards lost for the opposition • Collected two quarterbacks sacks • Forced a team-high three fumbles while picking up another one for recovery • Caused one (1) interception while pursing the quarterback for three hurries • Registered a season-high nine tackles against Savannah State • Also had a forced fumble and two pass breakups against the Tigers of SSU • Recorded a season-high four solo stops at Morgan State • Had a season-high tying 1.5 tackles-for-loss (-6 yards) against Southern at the Gateway Classic in Jacksonville, Fla. • Failed to record a tackle in just one game ... that coming against Florida A&M in the Walt Disney Florida Classic • Had six tackles against South Carolina State, Morgan State and North Carolina A&T, respectively • Caused and recovered a fumble against Norfolk State • Posted four tackles (two solo) against the Spartans in Daytona Beach • Collected three solo stops (five total) at Hampton on ESPNU.

Before Bethune-Cookman (South Florida/Jefferson HS)

Balloon saw action in all 11 games and started the final game of the year against Pittsburgh • A regular on special teams • Had eight tackles on the year, including seven solo by way of a solo performance • Season-high three tackles at Louisville • Class 4-A First Team All-State in 2002 and a member of two consecutive Jefferson teams to reach the state championship game • Ranked 42nd in Florida by Larry Bluestein of FloridaKids.net • Ranked 75th by the Orlando Sentinel newspaper • Ranked 14th in Tampa Bay by St. Petersburg Times, who also named him First team All-Suncoast and All-County • Also named All-County by Tampa Tribune • Had 130 tackles for a team that reached the Class 4-A state championship game for a second straight season in 2002 • Also had 866 yards rushing • Team went 24-4 in his final two years • Had over 1,400 rushing yards in his final two years.

Personal

Born to the world as Josh Balloon on Feb. 14, 1985 in Tampa, Fla. • He is the son of parents Ulus and Nathalie Balloon • Josh has three brothers and one sister.