Cox LB George Ballance commits to family school Virginia Tech
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (BVM) – Frank Cox High School senior linebacker George Ballance had known for a long time what school he wanted to go to: Virginia Tech. Being the son of a former Hokies quarterback and the brother of a former VT baseball player will do that. But he didn’t want to just attend Tech, he wanted a chance to play there as well. Fortunately, his play for the Falcons was good enough to earn him an opportunity at the in-state school and on Jan. 21, Ballance committed to the program.
“I feel great,” Ballance said. “It’s a lot of weight off my shoulders. I’m able to focus on my weightlifting and preparing to be able to go to Virginia Tech.”
Honored to be a Hokie! #757 @jcprice59 @Coach_Marve @CoachPryVT @Coach_Mines @HokiesFB pic.twitter.com/rRRGaiMul9
— George Ballance (@Georgeb_50) January 21, 2022
George’s father, Jeff, played for the Hokies in the 1980s and even played a key role in the Hokies’ first bowl victory when they won the 1986 Peach Bowl over North Carolina State, 25-24. Jeff was the holder for the game’s final play, a 40-yard, game-winning field goal by kicker Chris Kinzer. Staying in the state and in football, Jeff would coach Princess Anne High School’s football team for six seasons where he would end up stepping down in 2002 because he wanted to coach his sons.
“Ever since an early age he always told me to work hard and bust my tail and hard work in the end will always pay off,” George said. “He always told me to take care of my school work, keep my head down and stay focused.”
Jeff would coach both his sons at the younger levels starting with George’s older brother Matt. Matt would excel on the baseball diamond, playing at Cape Henry Collegiate where he was named all-conference all four years and all-state as both a junior and senior. That led Matt to Blacksburg where he would play for the Hokies in 2019.
Then came George, who will now follow in his family’s footsteps by joining the Hokies.
“It feels great. I feel like I’ve got something to prove and something to work towards,” George said. “I just can’t wait to get started. I’m glad I’m able to follow in my dad’s and brother’s footsteps and be able to go to the same school that they attended.”
Jeff is equally excited for the opportunity to see his own flesh and blood dress in the same uniform and colors he did during his time playing college football.
“I’m obviously extremely proud of him,” Jeff said. “I knew that deep down that’s kind of where he wanted to go and we wanted him to see all the other opportunities out there because there are some great schools out there. His mother and I are extremely proud of him… We’re looking forward to him being a part of it and doing good things.”
In George, Virginia Tech also gets a great player to utilize.
During his final season with the Falcons, George made plays all over the field from his linebacker spot. George would end the season with 110 tackles including 20 for a loss as well as three forced fumbles and one interception for 7-5 Cox.
Though George would also play a little bit of running back, he was known for his turn on the defensive side of the ball. For his efforts, George would be named second team all-region running back, first team all-region linebacker and second team All-Tidewater linebacker, solidifying his place as one of the best athletes in the region.
“I was very excited to finish my high school career the way I did,” George said. “It just shows my hard work and dedication in the offseason and putting it towards the field. The accomplishments I received at the end of the year just go to show the amount of work I put in.”
While his family background may have pushed George to the Hokies, the signing was not a done deal by any means. With his skills and Division I pedigree, George received interest from a number of teams including Old Dominion, Rhode Island and Yale, among others. At the end of the day though, it was the Hokies and Blacksburg that won out thanks in part to George visiting the program on multiple occasions and getting to know the team more in-depth.
“When I was offered the opportunity I was ecstatic, it was like no other feeling,” George said. “I took a lot of things [into the decision]. The coaches, the coaching staff, the campus which I’ve known since I was a little kid and honestly the atmosphere there at Virginia Tech for the games is like nothing else. I wanted to be a part of that…I feel like just putting everything together, weighed out my pros and cons and felt at the end of the day Virginia Tech was definitely the best fit for me.”
Though the decision seemed like destiny for the Cox linebacker, George knows that it was anything but. The opportunity to commit to his dream program took years of hard work, effort and dedication. However, when all was said and done, George was able to make an opportunity for himself while being able to continue his family’s legacy in Blacksburg. However, the work doesn’t start here as George could tell you, this is just the beginning.
“Virginia Tech’s getting a real hard worker in the classroom and on the football field,” George said. “A hard-nosed kid who will get after it, doesn’t back down from anything and is really excited to be in the whole Virginia Tech atmosphere.”
“He’s kind of an in-between guy size-wise so he’s got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder the way he’s working out and getting there in July,” Jeff said.
The goal for George is to one day help his Hokies reach the mountaintop with a bowl win, just as his dad did a few decades ago. That moment is one that both father and son are looking forward to.
“The best friends I have in life now are guys I played with on that team,” Jeff said. “If he’s ever able to be on the field and be a part of something like that and just experience the whole week or five days enjoying the time being at a bowl game and hopefully win one, it would be something he’d never forget. I obviously haven’t forgotten what we did in ‘86 and it would be pretty neat.”
“It would be awesome,” George said. “I feel like we’re going to have multiple opportunities to one: be in a bowl game and two: win a bowl game and I just want to be a part of that and do anything in my power and my will to help Virginia Tech do that.”
