Cole Ballard
American football player
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cole Ballard is an American college football quarterback for the Kansas Jayhawks.
| No. 15 – Kansas Jayhawks | |
|---|---|
| Position | Quarterback |
| Class |  |
| Personal information | |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Westfield (Westfield, Indiana) |
| College |
|
| Stats at ESPN | |
Early life
Ballard attended Westfield High School in Westfield, Indiana. As a senior, he threw for 1,654 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 655 yards and 13 touchdowns.[1] Following his graduation, Ballard committed to play college football at the University of Kansas as a walk-on.[2]
College career
Ballard entered the 2023 season as the third-string quarterback behind Jalon Daniels and Jason Bean.[3] Following injuries to Daniels and Bean, Ballard received his first significant playing time against Texas Tech, completing 9 of 20 passes for 124 yards and an interception.[4] He made his first career start against Kansas State the following week, throwing for 162 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in a 31–27 loss to the rival Wildcats.[5] Ballard finished the 2023 season with 286 passing yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.[6] He played sparingly during his redshirt freshman season in 2024 as Jalon Daniels's backup.[7] In 2025, Ballard completed 10 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 92 yards on 15 carries.[8]
Entering the 2026 season, Ballard is competing with Isaiah Marshall for Kansas's starting quarterback position.[9]
Statistics
Personal life
Ballard is the son of Chris Ballard, the general manager of the Indianapolis Colts.[10]