UNLV: A still-young player listed as the No. 1 tight end for the Rebels going into the season … A two-way prepster who was a three-star prospect coming out of high school according to 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN … Named to the 2020 and ’21 Academic All-Mountain West Teams … Already a four-time member of the UNLV Dean’s Honor List … Also a 2021 and ’22 MW Scholar-Athlete .. Name is pronounced “kah-LAY-oh ballon-guy.”

2021: Earned his first letter as a Rebel by playing in nine games, including making his first collegiate start vs. San Jose State in Game Seven … Caught a pass and ran for 28 yards.

2020: Redshirted season.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2020 graduate of John C. Kimball HS in Tracy, CA … Ranked the No. 42 tight end recruit by ESPN and No. 88 by 247Sports … A two-year letterwinner for coach Mike Kuhnlenz … Played both tight end and defensive end … As a senior in 2019, set career highs with 40 receptions, 751 receiving yards and eight touchdowns … Named team’s most valuable player in 2019 … Earned a first team all-league nod and was an All-Sac-Joaquin Section selection … Added three sacks and three pass deflections on the defensive side of the ball … During junior campaign in 2018, caught 20 passes for 464 yards and five touchdowns en route to a second team all-league selection … Also played basketball for the Jaguars.

PERSONAL: Kaleo Brandon Ballungay was born in Fremont, CA … The son of Cecily and Miles Ballungay … Has three siblings, Kainoa Ballungay, Jacob Malaluan and Cerina Malaluan … Majoring in business.

BALLUNGAY’S RECEIVING STATS

YEAR GP-GS REC YDS AVG TD LG

2021 9-1 1 28 28.0 0 28

Kaleo Ballungay