Chris Balster

Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen

Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen

Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen

Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen

Position:
Defensive Back
Height:
5-10
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Sheldon, Iowa
High School:
Sheldon H.S.
Major:
Exercise Science

HONORS AND AWARDS
• Missouri Valley Football Conference President’s Council Academic Award (2016)
• MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award (2015, 2016)
• MVFC Honor Roll (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)

2016: Moved into a starting role for the final 11 games ... ranked third on team with 75 tackles ... recorded career-high 10 tackles in Beef Bowl game against Cal Poly ... forced a key fumble and notched nine tackles in win at top-ranked North Dakota State ... registered seven tackles (six solo), broke up two passes and recorded his first career interception in regular season finale at Northern Iowa ... posted tackles for loss in each of two Football Championship Subdivision playoff games, finishing with seven stops versus Villanova and nine at North Dakota State, while earning team’s effort and defensive player of the week awards, respectively

2015: Started four games at safety and played in all 12 games ... recorded at least three tackles in all but one game and wound up fourth on the team with 56 total tackles ... opened season with four-tackle performance in win at Kansas ... named squad’s Special Teams Player of the Week in Beef Bowl win over Robert Morris (Pa.) ... tallied five tackles in first career start, in Hobo Day game against Northern Iowa ... tallied seven stops in back-to-back league wins over Missouri State and Illinois State ... established another season high with eight tackles, including one for loss, and added a pass breakup in road win at South Dakota ... was credited with five tackles in FCS playoff game at Montana

2014: Played in nine games, seeing action mostly on special teams ... recorded lone tackle of season in regular season game at North Dakota State ... appeared in nine of first 10 games, then missed final four games of the season due to injury suffered at Indiana State

2013: Earned recognition on the practice field on two occasions ... named Scout Defense Player of the Week leading up to Nebraska game and Scout Special Teams Player of the Week prior to game at Missouri State

BEFORE SDSU: Earned all-district honors three times and was also honored on the all-Northwest Iowa Review Team ... named district offensive MVP as a senior after accumulating 1,088 yards rushing and 1,197 yards passing ... averaged 7.1 yards per carry and 21.7 yards per completion in accounting for 29 total touchdowns ... tallied 63 tackles and three interceptions on defense ... named to all-tournament team in helping lead basketball team to Class 2A state title ... also competed in state track and field meet two times ... Honor Roll student