Jake Balis is a 5'9", 200-pound running back for the Vanderbilt Commodores from Granger, Indiana, where he attended Penn High School under coach Cory Yeoman. Balis earned magna cum laude honors at Penn and was named National Athlete of the Year by the National High School Strength Coaches Association. He was twice selected first-team all-conference in high school. A junior in 2026, Balis did not appear in games during his freshman season in 2024. His father, Matt Balis, served as head football strength and conditioning coach at Notre Dame while working alongside Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea.