Giants sixth round pick Corey Ballentine has officially signed his rookie contract, the cornerback announced on Instagram Thursday.
Ballentine has been through a lot since hearing his name called during last month's draft. 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.
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The shooting happened just hours after the Giants selected Ballentine in the sixth round of the NFL draft.
Ballentine missed rookie mini-camp, as the team encouraged him to stay home and take time to mourn the loss of Simmons, his best friend and roommate.
Chuck Cook/USA TODAY Images The rookie's contract is a four-year deal worth $2.7 million, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
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.