Corey Ballentine Joins Giants Following Shooting

A little more than two weeks after being shot, rookie cornerback Corey Ballentine has joined his Giants teammates.

Ballentine reported Monday to the team's facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and is participating in some offseason activities, according to multiple reports.

The 23-year-old defensive back was wounded in the buttocks April 28 in a shooting in Topeka, Kansas, that killed his teammate at Washburn University, Dwane Simmons. The shooting happened just hours after the Giants selected Ballentine in the fourth round of the NFL draft.

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Ballentine, who briefly visited the Giants' facility last week, can take part in classroom work as he rehabs his injuries, ESPN reported. The Giants are expecting him to make a full recovery.

He missed the team's rookie minicamp earlier this month after the Giants encouraged him to take time to mourn the loss of Simmons, his best friend and roommate.

According to police, Simmons and Ballentine were among those standing outside an off-campus party when a car carrying two to four people -- all apparently strangers to the football players -- pulled up and exchanged words with people on the street. Someone from inside the car then opened fire for reasons that remain unclear.  

The 5-foot-11, 196-pound Ballentine had 50 tackles and three interceptions last season for Division II Washburn.

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