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ULM Notebook: Walk-On Linebacker Batton Answered When Opportunity Knocked

ULM Notebook: Walk-On Linebacker Batton Answered When Opportunity Knocked

Football Nov 14
By ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist Paul Letlow

When opportunity knocks, it pays to be ready.

With leading tackler Tristan Driggers sidelined with a shoulder injury and a game plan that required a herd of linebackers to stop a run-first offense, ULM walk-on Michael Batton found himself with a chance to shine Saturday afternoon at Georgia State.

"That's what I told people," Batton said. "When opportunity meets preparation."

Batton responded with a monster performance, registering 16 tackles with 15 solos, one pass break-up and a forced fumble in ULM's 31-28 victory over the Panthers at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta.

"I was Tristan's backup and we knew this team was more of a running team," Batton said. "And so, we ran more of a 4-3 this week, rather than our usual 4-1-6. We kind of kind of brought the will and the star positions more in the box. Especially the will played more of a stereotypical linebacker."

Although Carl Glass Jr. made the start in place of Driggers, Batton was raring to go too.

"They were passing the ball more than usual," Batton said, "and eventually, I think they decided it was better to have me out there and I was performing well, thankfully."

Batton, who had 14 total tackles prior to Saturday's breakout performance, was part of a team effort that saw ULM (4-6, 3-3 Sun Belt) snap a 19-game road losing streak, dating back to 2019.

"It was a long time, a little over three years," Batton said. "The energy was right. When I was out there, I didn't have a doubt in my mind we were going to win. We're just learning how to win."

Prior to ULM, Batton played quarterback at Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York. He was 6-3 in nine starts last year, accounting for 1,110 yards of total offense and 12 touchdowns while leading his team to an appearance in the NJCAA Division III Championship game.

"I played quarterback my whole life," Batton said. "I had always played defense, but I kind of ended up at quarterback and did well for myself in high school. I took it to JUCO and did well there too. I couldn't really find an opportunity, but ULM recruited me to be an athlete and I just wanted to play Division I football; play in the big stadiums and stuff like that. That's how that worked out."

Batton found his way to ULM thanks to a family connection to associate head coach/inside linebackers coach Ron West. As a young assistant at Louisiana Lafayette in the 1980s, West coached Batton's father Peter. West showed interest in the younger Batton out of Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas, and recruited him again when he was looking for a next college stop earlier this year.

"Coach West knew me out of high school and he recruited me there," Batton said. "He coached my father in the '80s and he'd had his eye on me for a while. He always believed in me as a player. Once he got to ULM, he was always telling me he had a spot for me. When my recruiting went by the wayside, we gave him a call and he was happy to have me."

Batton credits his father for helping develop into a productive football player, no matter the position.

"I know what I'm capable of," Batton said. "I started football early. I played quarterback, but he made me a football player. Honestly, I was always better at defense than offense growing up, but I always played both. I definitely did have a lot of energy and things I wanted to prove. It wasn't a surprise to me, but I'm blessed I got the opportunity to go out there."

The other guys: Georgia State coach Shawn Elliott had no trouble identifying the pivotal play in his team's loss to ULM on Saturday.

The Panthers (4-6, 3-3 Sun Belt) led 14-3 after one quarter and were collecting yardage in chunks. But that all changed when Quae Drake returned a blocked punt 23 yards for a touchdown.

ULM's Nick Torres surged up the middle for the block and Drake's return with 14:16 remaining in the second quarter cut GSU's lead to 14-10.

"I don't know how many games I've been in where you have a blocked punt for a touchdown and you've won," Elliott said. "I can go back through all the years and it just doesn't happen. We were fortunate to fight back."

Scouting the Trojans: ULM faces another tough road trip next week with a visit to Troy. Winners of seven straight, the Trojans (8-2, 5-1 Sun Belt) escaped with a 10-9 win over Army on Saturday, as the Black Knights missed a field goal with 15 seconds remaining.

Linebacker Carlton Martial made a career-best 22 tackles in the contest, giving him 548 for his career while breaking the all-time NCAA FBS record of 545, previously held by former Northwestern linebacker Tim McGarigle.

Kickoff at Troy is set for 2:30 p.m.
 
 
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