Tag: St. Johns

Jaguars lock up half of their draft class with latest signing of OG Ben Bartch

The Jags have half of their draft class signed now as Ben Bartch is officially under contract.

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed fourth-round selection and offensive lineman Ben Bartch to his rookie deal Friday, giving them six members from April’s draft who are under contract. It also marks the halfway mark for the class as the Jags made a total of 12 selections.

Bartch, 21, was selected with the No. 116th overall selection of the 2020 draft out of St. Johns University (Minnesota). In the earliest stages of his career there, he played tight end before moving to left tackle after adding some bulk. During his junior season, he became a second-teamer for the All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Association and followed that up by becoming a a first-teamer as a senior.

Bartch became well known before the draft process because of the unusual routine he used to add weight, which was drinking a shake that consisted of seven scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, grits, peanut butter, a banana, and gatorade. During the combine, he walked NFL Network’s Colleen Wolfe through how he concocted it, which went viral on social media. 

When the team drafted him, the front office referred to Bartch as a developmental player who they thought was flexible enough to play multiple positions on the offensive line. Ultimately, it feels as though he’ll settle in at right guard and maybe push A.J. Cann for a starting role in 2021.

Bartch’s deal is projected to be a four-year one worth just over $4 million, per  Over the Cap. His signing bonus will be just over $763K which will be evenly distributed throughout each year on his deal.

WATCH: Here’s Ben Bartch’s strange smoothie recipe he concocted to add weight

Senior Bowl standout Ben Bartch of Saint John’s University is known for a bizarre smoothie recipe that he used to gain weight.

With the first of the Jaguars three fourth-round selections, the team selected offensive tackle Ben Bartch out of Saint John’s University in Minnesota. Bartch was a Senior Bowl winner in January, proving he could keep up with the big boys at the annual All-Star game as a Division 3 product.

At 6-foot-6, 309 pounds, Bartch brings nice size and athleticism to the position. If he has a good showing in the offseason, some even feel he may can compete for a starting job, but ultimately we’ll have to see how he transitions from the collegiate level.

Bartch didn’t only game popularity by his performance at the Senior Bowl but he also became a popular figure on the web for a strange routine he used to add weight to play on the blindside. That routine was concocting a smoothie recipe that would help him pack on 60 pounds in just a few months.

During the NFL scouting combine, he shared the recipe with NFL Network, which includes a mixture of seven scrambled eggs, a tub of cottage cheese, peanut butter, a banana, a cup of grits, and some good old thirst quenching Gatorade.

Yeah, I know, it’s a disgusting concoction but at the same time it shows Bartch’s commitment to success. Bartch claimed that on many occasions his breakfast smoothie would cause him to gag, but he just plugged his nose and downed the beverage anyway.

Evidently, the nastiness of Bartch’s concoction also translated to the field as he had his way with defenders while at Saint John’s. Simply put, his selection is one Jags fans could really end up liking down the road because he has great potential.

Jags select St. Johns OT Ben Bartch with pick No. 116

The Jags finally got some offensive line help with their first selection Day 3 by taking St. John’s Ben Bartch.

Many fans had been hoping the Jacksonville Jaguars would address their offensive line and they did just that to start Day 3. With the No. 116 overall pick, the team took St. Johns offensive tackle Ben Bartch.

Bartch, 6-foot-6, 309-pounds, was a player who really made a name for himself at the Senior Bowl despite his small school label. In fact, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had him down as a third round pick in his breakdown of Bartch.

Here is what he had to say about Bartch in his overview:

Converted tight end who has added 75 pounds of good weight since stepping on campus but retained his plus movement. Despite a lack of experience and small-school background, his traits and rapid growth in body and play caught the eye of Senior Bowl evaluators. From a skill standpoint, he’s still an undergrad, but on pace for his degree in tackle studies. He’s an enticing left tackle prospect who continues to evolve, but a step up in competition and a need for continued physical development will require patience and could determine whether his final calling is swing tackle or starter.

On film, Bartch plays with a nasty demeanor and finishes well. Obviously, with a little bit of a tight end background, he’s a solid athlete, too. As a former offensive lineman, that’s clearly something Doug Marrone was impressed by as the Jags need depth in the trenches.

Heading into the draft process the Jags’ front office seemed as though they wanted to give the starting offensive line from 2019 another shot as they felt the group was capable of better. However, taking Bartch should prove to be a smart move as Cam Robinson has dealt with injuries and is on the last year on his contract.