Balmer did not make much of an impact as a freshman, but as a sophomore, he had 17 tackles with five of them coming for a loss. As a junior, he had 16 tackles, 2.5 for loss, and 2.5 sacks on the year. Balmer put it all together this season, finishing with 59 tackles, 9.5 for loss, and 3.5 sacks.
Balmer has a very nice blend of talent. He has the size, athleticism, quickness, and strength to be an excellent NFL defensive tackle. He has the strength to control running lanes, but the quickness to shoot the gap and disrupt the action.
Consistency has been the issue with Balmer. He has the talent, but does not always play up to it. He has the strength to push offensive lineman around, but does not always do it. He has the quickness to consistently get into the backfield, but he doesn’t always get that penetration. Balmer really only had one season of standout play at the college level.
Balmer’s big senior year has put him in position to be a first round pick. He has the talent to impress in workouts, which could lock up that first round selection. Balmer just needs to play with more fire on a consistent basis, which should allow him to impact the game like his talent suggests he should.