Kalen Ballage facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kalen Ballage

Ballage with the Colorado Falcons in 2014
No. 4 – Arlington Renegades
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1995-12-22) December 22, 1995 (age 29) Peyton, Colorado, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	222 lb (101 kg)
Career information
High school:	Falcon (Falcon, Colorado)
College:	Arizona State (2014–2017)
NFL Draft:	2018 / Round: 4 / Pick: 131
Career history
Miami Dolphins (2018–2019) New York Jets (2020) Los Angeles Chargers (2020) Pittsburgh Steelers (2021) San Antonio Brahmas (2023) Arlington Renegades (2025–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 665 Rushing average: 3.1 Rushing touchdowns: 7 Receptions: 54 Receiving yards: 293
Player stats at PFR

Kalen Ballage (born December 22, 1995) is an American professional football player. He plays as a running back for the Arlington Renegades in the United Football League (UFL). Before joining the UFL, he played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils. He was also part of several teams in the NFL, including the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Los Angeles Chargers.

Early Life and High School Football

Kalen Ballage grew up in Peyton, Colorado. He went to Falcon High School in Falcon, Colorado. During his time there, he was a very successful football player.

High School Achievements

In three years on the varsity team, Kalen ran for 2,690 yards. He averaged 8.5 yards every time he carried the ball. He also scored 35 touchdowns by running. Besides running, he caught the ball for 671 yards and scored 12 receiving touchdowns. Many top college football programs wanted him to play for them. He chose to play for Arizona State on January 17, 2013.

College Football Career

Kalen Ballage played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils from 2014 to 2017.

Freshman and Sophomore Years

As a freshman in 2014, Kalen had 202 combined rushing and receiving yards. He scored four touchdowns that year. In his second year, 2015, he ran for over 100 yards in a game for the first time. This happened against the Oregon Ducks.

Junior Year Highlights

In 2016, his junior year, Kalen made history. He scored eight touchdowns in one game against Texas Tech. This tied a record for the most touchdowns scored in a single college football game. During this year, he also played a special role as a quarterback in a unique offense called the "Sparky Package." Kalen was known for being both fast and strong on the field.

Professional Football Journey

Kalen Ballage began his professional career in the NFL. He was picked by the Miami Dolphins in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Miami Dolphins (2018–2019)

Kalen joined the Miami Dolphins in 2018. He played his first NFL game in Week 4. In Week 15, he had a great game against the Minnesota Vikings. He ran for 123 yards and scored a touchdown. He finished his first season with 191 rushing yards and one touchdown.

In 2019, Kalen was the second-string running back for the Dolphins. He played in 12 games and started six of them. He ran for 135 yards and scored three touchdowns. He also caught 14 passes for 63 yards. He was placed on injured reserve in December 2019 due to a leg injury.

New York Jets (2020)

In 2020, the Dolphins tried to trade Kalen to the New York Jets. However, the trade did not happen because he did not pass a physical exam. He was later signed by the Jets on September 15, 2020, but was waived (released) on October 5.

Los Angeles Chargers (2020)

Kalen then joined the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad on October 9, 2020. He was later moved to the main team. He played in 11 games for the Chargers, starting two. He ran for 303 yards and scored three touchdowns. He also caught 29 passes for 166 yards.

Pittsburgh Steelers (2021)

On March 30, 2021, Kalen signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played in all 17 games during the 2021 season. He was mostly used in a special teams role, which means he played on units for kickoffs and punts.

XFL and UFL Career

After his time in the NFL, Kalen continued his career in other professional football leagues.

San Antonio Brahmas (2023)

In 2023, Kalen was chosen by the San Antonio Brahmas in the 2023 XFL Draft. He was placed on the team's reserve list in March 2023. He left the team in February 2024.

Arlington Renegades (2025–Present)

On January 17, 2025, Kalen Ballage signed with the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). In the Renegades' first game of the 2025 season, he ran for a 77-yard touchdown. This was the longest touchdown run in UFL history at that time. He was later placed on injured reserve on May 7, 2025, due to a shoulder injury.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season Performance

Postseason Performance

XFL/UFL Career Statistics