By Eric Edholm
April 25, 2008

Kentwan Balmer

After three years of college ball, Kentwan Balmer was in limbo. He was a talented player who had yet to fulfill his promise, but a change in coaching staffs brought in Butch Davis and new promise for Carolina football. The change also helped Balmer, who was inspired by one of Davis’ assistants, John Blake, to put things all together in Balmer’s final season. He responded with 59 tackles (tied for second on the team), 9½ tackles for loss, 3½ sacks and four QB hurries and was named second-team All-ACC despite the Tar Heels’ 4-8 mark.

Balmer has a chance to be a first-round pick on Saturday as one of the higher-ranked tackles in this year’s class. In fact, some scouts believe he could appeal highly to teams that run a 3-4 defense, either as an end or as a nose tackle. Balmer took a few minutes recently to talk with PFW about UNC hoops, blocking extra points, losing close games, being old school and eating egg whites and celery.

PFW: So I hear you were quite the hoops player back in the day. Tell me about your game.

Balmer: Well, I have never been one to brag, but I was two-time all-state, three-time MVP, all-conference team three years in a row.

PFW: That’s not bragging. Was football or hoops your favorite sport back then?

Balmer: Actually, I thought basketball was going to be my sport. My brother, he’s about 6-4, 230 (pounds), he and I had some fierce rivalries going on back then. We always thought basketball would be the sport. But once I put the pads on, you know, it took me in.

PFW: Have you ever played Julius Peppers? Do you guys have similar games?

Balmer: I have seen him play a couple times, but we never met on the court or anything. I would say we play somewhat similar style of basketball. It depends on what you like. Similar style of football, too, but he’s just a different type of athlete.

PFW: So what happened to UNC hoops in the first half against Kansas?

Balmer: Oh, man, that was rough. (Kansas) was just the better team that day. (sighs)

PFW: People have called you an underachiever for your first three years. Did you hear the talk?

Balmer: Yeah, I have heard that quite a bit with the difference in production (between his senior year and the other seasons). But I’ll be the first one to tell you that I had a coaching-staff change, and those guys brought a different mentality and their own way of playing the game. That’s what the difference was. They taught us how to prepare like professionals, how to go out there and play with the discipline it takes to be good. I didn’t understand that my first three years. No disrespect to the coaches I had before, but they really brought that to us. They opened the door for us to be good. You either walked through it or you didn’t. And I wanted to run through it.

PFW: You did block two extra points in a one-point win over Duke as a junior — that had to feel nice coming against your rival.

Balmer: Yes, sir. Of course, most people don’t know I played (as a junior) with a high ankle sprain that affected my production and the way I played. But I suffered that high ankle sprain the first game, which most people don’t know. I came back a little earlier than I was supposed to, and it hindered me all season. Most people don’t know that, and I wanted to keep that a secret, because like I said, I am not making excuses.

PFW: As a whole, 2006 was a tough year. I heard the Clemson players were doing some taunting in that game. How much motivation was there to make some noise this season?

Balmer: Well, there was a lot of motivation because Carolina football is better than what we showed the three years I was there and even this past season. With the coaching staff that’s there now, we’re going to turn it around and put Carolina where it needs to be.

PFW: When did you know it was going to be a good season for you personally? Was there a specific moment in practice or a game when you knew you would play better?

Balmer: Yes, actually there was. A guy by the name of (UNC DL) Coach (John) Blake — we call him “Boo” — he coached with the Dallas Cowboys and was head coach at Oklahoma. I walked into his office and we talked for about 30 minutes. We watched my junior year film, and he asked me, “How good do you want to be?” I told him, and he said if I follow him, then he’s going to show me the way. And I have been following him every step of the way since then. And that’s when I knew. He looked me directly in the eye and said, “You can be a first-round pick.” And I believed him. That’s when I knew when it would be a different season.

PFW: Do you remember your first meeting with Coach Davis? What did he say?

Balmer: He met with us as a team right after he had met with the media, but he eventually kicked all those guys out and he was just up front with us. He said he would go to battle with us on any front, and he was going to show us how to be great. And he hasn’t gone back on his word yet. Even as I have been going through this process and going to school, he has been with me every step of the way. It has just been a blessing to have him as a head coach.

PFW: It seems a lot of people think you’d fit nicely in a 3-4 defense in the NFL. Did you run much one-gap in college?

Balmer: My previous two years, we used mostly one-gap (principles) — hold up the line, read and react. This year, we mostly were an attacking style of defensive, more aggressive. Knocking people back, trash talking, making plays, flying around. I have played in both systems, and I think I can play well in either one.

PFW: How often were you in a “zero-“ or a “one-technique” over the center?

Balmer: Actually not that much. I was mostly over as a “three-technique” though I did start some games at the nose. We had a young guy by the name of Marvin Austin — a heck of a player, but he didn’t quite understand the leverage at that time, but I am sure he won’t have any problem getting it down. I was the older guy, and we needed the best players on the field at the time. So I didn’t mind doing it.

PFW: Six of your eight losses as a senior were by a touchdown or less. How rough was that?

Balmer: It was very, very hard. Nobody likes losing, especially with the team we had and the coaches we had. We went into every game thinking we were going to win. We were never discouraged, though. We were always prepared. We knew the work we put in and how hard we prepared would (help us) in the long run. It never discouraged us from the previous week to the next game if we lost.

PFW: On your bio, it says your dream was to pick off a pass. How close were you this year?

Balmer: (laughs) Well, not really close. I batted a few balls down. I mean, there were a few I hit that popped up in the air. But usually when it was in the air, guys would try to fly around my legs and try to clean me up. I never really got a chance to go get the ball. I still have time to make that dream come true!

PFW: It’s tough playing in traffic.

Balmer: Definitely. But I love every minute of it. You know, everyone can’t play defensive line. And I get to do it every snap, every time I am on the field — practice, games or walk-throughs. I love it.

PFW: How close is Carolina football to breaking out?

Balmer: Very close!

PFW: Give me a bold prediction then.

Balmer: They are going to be a contender in two years. A BCS game in two years, if not this year.

PFW; Wow, that is bold! Toughest offensive lineman you faced in college?

Balmer: Man, I have played against some good ones. I am going to say my freshman year against (Florida State OT) Alex Barron. I was younger at the time, and he was a senior, and he showed me what college ball was all about. But I’ll see him again. (laughs)

PFW: Best class you took in college?

Balmer: I am going to say Geology, man.

PFW: Really? Sounds difficult.

Balmer: You don’t have to tell me! (laughs) Yeah, actually, just learning about the Earth, how it works, stuff like that. Very interesting. I didn’t think I would like it — it was a three-hour class — but it turned out to be pretty interesting.

PFW: Weirdest question a team has asked you during the draft process?

Balmer: I think the weirdest one was when I walked into a meeting, and as soon as I sat down, a guy asked me if I like women.

PFW: Women?

Balmer: Yeah. (laughs) Everyone started laughing. I was laughing. I thought it was weird because I came to talk football, and he tried to throw me off guard with that. It was definitely a weird question, but it was good.

PFW: What team was it?

Balmer: Ahh, I am not going to say.

PFW: Smart man. Are you a gamer? Do you have a favorite video game?

Balmer: I play a few video games, but I don’t have a lot of time, but I play. My favorite is Madden. Either Madden or Rainbow Six.

PFW: Who do you play on Madden?

Balmer: It depends on who my opponents take. Football is a game of strategy, and a lot of times I will try to match up with whoever they take.

PFW: Pro sports team you root for most?

Balmer: My favorite hoops team was the Charlotte Hornets. Alonzo Mourning and Larry “Grandmama” Johnson. I didn’t really have a favorite football team, just some favorite players.

PFW: Name one or two.

Balmer: I’ll say Reggie White, Lawrence Taylor. I am a little old school.

PFW: Any throwback jerseys?

Balmer: I had a couple, but I think I am growing out of that now. I had the John Elway, I had quite a few. But I gave those to my brothers. I don’t need them anymore.

PFW: Meal you most look forward to Mom making when you go back home?

Balmer: I don’t want to talk about it because I can’t have it! I am on a strict diet. But she cooks some hamburger steak and gravy with some mashed potatoes and biscuits and some collard greens … that’s some good eating right there. I don’t know how I am do without it, but I am going to do my best.

PFW: What’s the weirdest thing you have to eat in your new diet?

Balmer: When I first started eating egg whites, that was the toughest thing. But you get used to it, and it helps your body. And actually, I am starting to like celery a little bit more.

PFW: Would it bother you if you slid out of Round One? Or do you just want to find a good fit?

Balmer: Well, that’s the goal for anybody. But if that doesn’t happen, I am not going to be discouraged. It’s not where you start, it’s where you end up. I know what type of preparation I am going to bring to a team. I know the type of dedication I bring to a team. Whether I (get drafted) in the first round or second round, I am going to give my new team my all. I am going to be a player that wants to be there, that’s hungry and works hard.