Jack Batho overcame adversity to achieve a childhood dream
RAPID CITY, S.D. (BVM) — It is a dream for many kids to grow up one day and play in professional sports. However, few get to achieve it or even come close to making it to the professional level. Jack Batho is one of those few.
“To be able to take it from the little kids aspect of backyard football all the way to getting a shot at the NFL is just really cool,” Batho said
The former South Dakota School of Mines and Technology left tackle became an undrafted free agent signee earlier this month with the Atlanta Falcons after six years of Division II collegiate football. Batho was later released by the team, but his time with Falcons was a dream come true.
“It was really cool,” Batho said. “Being a DII kid it doesn’t happen very often. … Just having that opportunity and being able to go out there to see the facilities, meet some of the players that are on an NFL roster that you hear about when you watch the NFL on Sunday night, it’s really a blessing.”
The 6-foot-8, 308-pound offensive lineman first got on NFL scouts’ radar during the 2018 season. The following spring in 2019, a Minnesota Vikings scout came out to talk with him and take some measurements.
It wasn’t long before the Omaha, Neb., native had more than 20 NFL scouts showing up on campus to take a look at him during the 2019 season, but Batho still had some hurdles he needed to overcome.
“He battled from adversity from a health standpoint earlier in his career,” Hardrockers head coach Charlie Flohr said. “Never really had played a whole season, this year with us playing those four games he was able to play all four of those for us, was a starter at left tackle in every one of those games and just a relentless worker.”
“It took a lot of work,” Batho said. “I had a lot of people around me that were supportive: coaches, athletic trainers, family and my fiance. Having that support system behind you makes it a little easier to come back.”
Batho always did come back and even with his busy schedule as a double major and a thrower on the track team, he did not falter in his work. It’s why he believes he has been able to reach the level he is at.
“It’s always been a dream to play in the NFL so every opportunity I had or have, I’ve given it 100%,” Batho said. “I think that’s what put me in that situation even with the injury history to be able to compete at a level such as the NFL.”
His coaches also took notice of his unstoppable work ethic and made him a two-time captain for SDM. In particular this past season, with all the added distractions, Batho was an important leader on the team.
“He is one of those guys that if you want somebody to be at the forefront of what your program is, Jack Batho is that guy and I really relied on him through the COVID year,” Flohr said. “Helping me out with different things in regards to changing the culture of the team. He’s been a great asset for me and has really helped me out.”
However, even with his knowledge for the game, size and impressive attributes, getting noticed in 2020 was still difficult. Due to COVID, the Hardrockers only played four games and with the limitations on travel, no scouts showed up to games or on campus to talk with Batho.
It was just another hurdle Batho would have to get past on his way to achieving his dream, but it was one that he took pride in. As a DII athlete, it already is hard to get to the NFL just based on the resources at your disposal, add to that the added issues of getting noticed in a COVID year makes the accomplishment that much more impressive.
“It’s always a dream, but those first two years it’s just people talking at that point,” Batho said. “When it becomes realistic, obviously it means so much to anybody in that situation to even have the chance but especially for a smaller level, smaller school guy it means a lot more I think, especially for me.”
Batho competed in the Hula Bowl earlier this year to be able play in front of scouts and also compete against other NFL hopefuls. He played great, which just validated his belief that he could play at that level. Then in late March, he held a pro day at O’Hara Stadium in Rapid City.
Unfortunately, Batho did not hear his name called during the draft, but that didn’t stop him as he joined the Falcons. Although his time in Atlanta is over now, he is still working to get on another dream and double down on what he has already accomplished. With plans of being a biomedical engineer when his playing days are done, Batho isn’t done yet.
