Ballage has tentative travel plans

Right now, Kalen Ballage has a plan. Right now, he has a top four. Right now, he intends to take official visits to each of them plus a mystery to school to be named later after the season. That's not to say those plans won't change. The four-star athlete shies away from speaking in absolutes for good reason.

For the time being, all Ballage can do is outline the way things stand for the time being. He doesn't mind doing that.

"I'm going to wait until after football season to take the visits," Ballage said. "That's probably the only time I can do it. I just want to focus on right now. For right now, I plan on visiting Michigan, Boise State, Michigan State and Nebraska. That's subject to change, but that's it. I'm still kind of looking for a fifth. I want to take five."

Each school on Ballage's shortlist has its unique perks. His sister lives an hour away from the Huskers' Lincoln campus. When he talks about Michigan State, he talks about the school's tradition of running backs. With Michigan, he talks about the coaching staff.

When he starts in about Boise State, though, his words center around a feeling. His interest in the Broncos, it seems, is about repaying loyalty.

"Over everything, they were the first school to offer me," Ballage said. "Boise State picked me out of a crowd when nobody thought I was anything. Everybody thinks it's small-town Falcon Colorado and nobody plays football out here. Boise decided to go out of their way and check me out. I respect them for that."

Ballage says he has a pair of slight favorites in the process, but isn't ready to share them yet because the lead the duo holds on the pack is so small.

"I'm just not totally sure yet, so I don't want to put it out there," he said.

Ballage, the 136th-ranked player in the Rivals250 Presented by Under-Armour, plays both running back and linebacker at Falcon but would prefer to play running back in college. He says that every school near the top of his list in recruiting him to do so.

One of the top high school sprinters in Colorado, Ballage runs the 100 and 200 meters at Falcon but does not wish to continue his track career in college.