Jackson Ballinger

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-4, 225 lbs. Taller than 0% and heavier than 35% of 2027 Tight End prospects in the SEC Scouts database (20 with a listed size).

Play Style

On film he projects as a traditional attached tight end: he lines up in-line, handles down blocks and seals on the edge, and works the short and middle zones as a receiver (flat, seam, play-action leaks). He describes himself as a 'strongly developing blocking and receiving tight end,' and Florida's staff views him as a contributor in both the run and pass game. His defensive end snaps show a player who plays physically and will finish plays. He appears to be a steady, reliable target and blocker rather than a vertical mismatch; available film and stats do not show him winning deep as a receiver.

Strengths

• Frame built for in-line work: already 225-235 at 6-4/6-5 with room to add mass, which fits ESPN's TE-H label and should let him hold up at the point of attack sooner than most 3-star tight ends.
• Two-way experience at defensive end, including 2 sacks and 6 tackles against Fredericktown as a sophomore. That means he is used to contact and hand fighting, which helps with blocking and reading defenders as a receiver.
• Strong offer list for a small-school Ohio player: 28 Division I offers, including Texas A&M, Missouri, Wisconsin, Stanford, Arkansas, Auburn and Arizona State. Power Four staffs clearly valued his tape and camp work despite the low level of competition.
• Maturity and makeup: he carries a 3.97 GPA with a biology major planned, and local coverage describes him as 'all business.' Florida's TE coach Evan McKissack recruited him largely on character, which lowers the risk for a player who will need time to develop.

Areas to Improve

• Proving himself as a receiver: his recorded production is small (5-53 in 2024, 9-111-1 through late September 2025) in a run-first small-school offense. He needs to show he can separate on option routes, catch through contact and create yards after the catch against SEC linebackers and safeties.
• Level of competition: he has played Knox Morrow Athletic Conference opponents, so technique that won there (pad level, footwork in zone schemes, sustaining blocks) will be tested right away against SEC edge rushers. Expect a real adjustment to college speed.
• Getting stronger without getting slower: he needs another 15-25 pounds to handle SEC edge rushers as an in-line blocker, and must keep the movement he has now.

College Projection

He is a likely redshirt candidate in 2027. He could still see early snaps in jumbo and short-yardage packages and on special teams (kick coverage and field goal protection) if he arrives around 240. A realistic path is rotating in as a blocking-first TE2 by his redshirt freshman or sophomore year, with a chance to become Florida's starting in-line tight end by year three if his receiving grows. Because Florida's staff recruited him, their scheme plans matter for how he's used. Coach continuity at Florida is the main variable.

NFL Outlook

It's a long shot, but blocking tight ends get to the NFL on the back end of drafts. If he reaches about 250 and becomes an SEC-level in-line blocker while also developing as a receiver, he projects as a day-3 or priority free agent Y tight end. His draft stock depends almost entirely on showing enough athleticism to threaten the seam. Without that, his most likely ceiling is a quality multi-year college starter.

Best Fit

A pro-style or multi-tight end offense that uses 12 and 13 personnel, uses zone and gap running schemes, and gets tight ends involved through play-action. Florida's commitment fits if the staff keeps using a true Y. He would be undervalued in a spread offense that treats tight ends as flexed receivers. His profile also fit programs such as Wisconsin and Stanford that recruited him hard.