NFF National Scholar-Athletes
Robby Ballentine, WR – DePauw (IN)
3.92 GPA – Biochemistry (3.92 GPA)
Head Coach: Brett Dietz | Athletics Director: Stevie Baker-Watson
Faculty Athletics Representatives: David Gellman and Jeane Pope
William Pearce Scholar-Athlete Award Endowed by William A. Schreyer
A gifted wide receiver who has rewritten the record books, Robby Ballentine has matched his on-field success with outstanding work in the classroom, earning a near-perfect 3.92 GPA as a biochemistry major. The Crown Point, Indiana, native becomes the fifth NFF National Scholar-Athlete from DePauw and first since 1989.
A 2024 First Team Academic All-American, Ballentine earned a place on the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll and has been recognized six times on both the Tiger Pride Honor Roll and DePauw's Dean's List. He earned the Phi Delta Theta Albert Lund Scholarship, and he has been inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma national scholar-athlete honor society. Ballentine plans to pursue a postgraduate career in dentistry.
A 2024 D3football.com Second Team All-American, Ballentine has twice made the First Team All-NCAC list. He broke the NCAC single-season record for receiving touchdowns (20) last season and is the school's all-time leader in touchdown receptions. His career marks currently include 210 receptions for 3,125 yards and 47 touchdowns. His 109.3 receiving yards per game and 9.3 points per game both lead the NCAC this season, and he is tied for sixth in the nation for receiving touchdowns (9), ranks ninth for receptions per game (8.17), 16th for reception yards per game (109.3), and 14th receiving yards (656) this season. His 47 career touchdown receptions are first among active student-athletes on all NCAA levels, while his 210 receptions are fourth among active Division III players and his 3,125 receiving yards are third.
A three-year letterman and 2025 team captain, Ballentine has been a key force in transforming DePauw, along with his younger brother Scott (who stars at quarterback for the Tigers), into one of Division III's most successful programs. He has helped lead the Tigers to three straight NCAC titles and Division III playoff appearances, including the program's first-ever 11-win season in 2024 and back-to-back 10-0 regular seasons for the first time in school history. The No. 16 ranked Tigers are 5-1 this year.
Ballentine also serves as the academic chair of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and volunteers as a youth mentor for the Lake County Veterans Treatment Court.
(All stats as of Oct. 22, 2025)
