Memphis Safety Lonnie Ballentine Gets the 'Lowsman Trophy'

Originally posted at 7:13 a.m. May 10, 2014. Edited with new details.

Memphis safety Lonnie Ballentine will be the honoree for the 39th annual "Irrelevant Week" in Orange County after the Houston Texans selected him with the final pick of the NFL draft today.

A series of events will be held July 8-12 to honor Ballentine, including a charity roast benefiting Special Olympics of Southern California where he will receive the "Lowsman Trophy," which depicts a player fumbling a football.

Ballentine, who was dubbed Mr. Irrelevant for being chosen last in the draft, will also be the guest of honor at Newport Beach Community Day and visit Disneyland.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Ballentine was fifth on the Tigers in tackles in 2013 with 58.

Melanie Salata Fitch, the daughter of Irrelevant Week founder Paul Salata, announced Ballentine's selection at the site of the draft, Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

"We founded Irrelevant Week to drive home an important message -- that it's not a negative to be picked last in the NFL draft, rather it's an honor to be drafted at all," said Salata, a former wide receiver for USC and two NFL teams.

"It's a lesson that resonates not only with NFL players and fans, but with people everywhere."

Irrelevant Week is the cornerstone of The Foundation for the Undefeated, a recently formed national nonprofit organization based in Newport Beach that champions stories of perseverance in sports.

--City News Service