Valley defensive lineman Ballard signs to play football at Division I Buffalo

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 | 6:37 PM

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Demetrius Ballard was a focus of many offensive game plans during his senior season on the Valley defensive line.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder wreaked havoc in the trenches and in backfields, often garnering double and triple teams to try to neutralize his strength and quickness.

The Valley News Dispatch first-team all-star and Allegheny 6 Conference Defensive MVP hopes to continue his success next fall with Buffalo of the Division I Mid-American Conference.

Ballard made his decision final Wednesday morning on the first day of the three-day national letter of intent early signing period for Division I football.

“This feels amazing,” said Ballard in his soft-spoken way that belies his fierceness on the field. “It is a blessing to be able to sign Division I and do it with Buffalo. It is a rare opportunity, and I am grateful. I’ve dreamed about this day. It’s amazing to have all the support from everyone around me.”

Welcome to the family, Demetrius! 🤘

➡️@demetriusb99#BULL2MAFI4 | #UBhornsUP pic.twitter.com/3uqB1h3g9L

— UB Football (@UBFootball) December 20, 2023

Ballard said the desire to play college football has been present for a while, but the thought of doing it at the D-I level became a distinct possibility for him after what he was able to do from his defensive end position in the first couple of games this past season.

“I saw that I had the talent to play Division I, and that just made me work even harder in practices and games,” Ballard said.

Ballard signed his letter and sent it to the Buffalo coaches at 7:01 a.m. Soon after, he received a call from Bulls head coach Maurice Linguist congratulating him on his decision.

Ballard said one journey has ended with finalizing his decision on signing day while another journey has just begun as he gets ready over the next couple of months to step on campus and the practice field hoping to make an immediate impact.

“I know that I have to be both physically and mentally prepared for the practices and even the school work,” said Ballard, who hasn’t decided on a major. “I will definitely be hitting the weight room a lot. The (Buffalo) coaches are going to send me a workout plan.”

Ballard also received offers from Coastal Carolina and Akron. Through research and visits, along with discussions with Valley coaches and his family, he said he came to the understanding that Buffalo was for him, and the decision wasn’t all that difficult.

“It was the strong relationship I had with the coaches,” Ballard said. “That was a big reason I decided to commit there. They talked to me a lot about what this team can do in the future. I feel like this is a program on the rise.”

Ballard said the focus now is to do the necessary things to make an immediate impact for the Bulls.

Buffalo went 3-9 overall in the 2023 season and 3-5 in the MAC with wins over Akron, Central Michigan and Kent State. The Bulls faced a nonconference slate that included Wisconsin from the Big Ten and an undefeated Liberty team that is set to face Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.

Valley coach Mark Adams said Ballard’s signing is well-deserved, and Buffalo “has gotten themselves a gem.”

“I am excited for Demetrius,” Adams said. “From the moment I met him, I felt he was going to be special. This is a great day for him. This is something he’s worked so hard for. Probably 90% of the kids who come up through high school football never attain this (Division I football). It’s great for him to be able to pass this legacy on to the young ones coming through the program and for them to see what hard work and dedication can get you.”

Ballard had a monster season for Valley this past fall. He made 90 tackles and added 15 sacks.

In one of the Vikings’ two wins, a 38-6 rout of Uniontown on Sept. 22, Ballard made 12 tackles, recorded two sacks and returned a fumble 27 yards for a touchdown.

“He was such a dominant player,” Adams said. “We couldn’t practice him on defense when we were going on offense because he would just wreck it.

“His first step off the ball is one of the fastest I’ve seen in years. He reminds me of (Ravens outside linebacker) Jadeveon Clowney. He’s long, he’s lean, he’s fast, and he’s strong. He’s also a smart player. We moved him around on both sides of the ball.

“He’s hard to block. Sometimes it took multiple guys to try and stop him. A lot of teams discovered it was better to just run away from him.”

The early signing period for Division I football concludes Friday.

Several from the A-K Valley are looking forward to the regular signing period for Division I and II, which begins Feb. 7 and concludes April 1 for Division I and Aug. 1 for Division II.

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Valley