Ben Bartch

The story of Benjamin Bartch mirrors a journey of resilience and relentless determination that saw him evolve from an unnoticed high school player to a professional NFL guard. Born on July 22, 1998, he started his athletic career in McMinnville, Oregon. Here, he attended Blanchet Catholic School, where he became a true sports enthusiast. He played as a receiver, tight end, and linebacker for the school. Beyond football, Bartch was also keen on basketball, earning himself a 4-year letterer during his time at Blanchet.

Despite his height, Bartch was unusually skinny for a football player, tipping the scales at only 195 lbs during his senior year. Consequently, this saw him serve primarily as a backup receiver, and he received little recognition for his blocking abilities. His senior year wasn’t particularly impressive, recording only a few receptions and tackles. His decision to further his football career at Saint John’s affirmed his passion for the sport. Here, he joined the Division III program, furthering his academic pursuits and athletic enrichment.

Beginning his journey at Saint John’s, Bartch initially played as a tight end. In his freshman year, he had gained some weight, now weighing 220 lbs. His contributions to the team were minimal initially, mostly concerning the special teams. But as a sophomore, Bartch proved his worth, catching four passes for a total of 43 yards and scoring one touchdown.

As Bartch advanced in his collegiate career, his coaches recognized his latent talent for blocking. He was suggested to switch to the offensive line, a decision that would require significant weight gain. To achieve this, Bartch adopted a strict regimen of consuming protein shakes consisting of scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, quick grits, peanut butter, bananas, and Gatorade daily. This resulted in him gaining 35 lbs over a summer break and eventually reaching a weight of 308 lbs.

With his new weight class and position, Bartch quickly proved his value, securing the titles of starting left tackle for the Johnnies. In the same season, he was named second-team All-MIAC and to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. His efforts were not overlooked in his senior year when he was recognized as the first-team All-MIAC and a consensus first-team All-American by D3Football.com. Bartch also participated in Saint John’s track team, competing in shot put and discus throw events.

By his senior year, he had piqued the interest of NFL scouts and was considered a prospect for the 2020 NFL draft. His aptitude and skill did not go unnoticed, with a rival coach describing him as “the best D3 player I had ever seen.” Bartch was then invited to participate in the 2020 Senior Bowl, cementing his reputation in the league.

The Jacksonville Jaguars eventually drafted Bartch in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft, making him the first Saint John player to be picked since 1974, and the first player from any Division III program, since the 2015 selection of Ali Marpet by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Despite a quick transition to NFL life, there were challenges. While starting as a Jaguar’s left guard in the 2022 season, Bartch suffered a dislocated knee in Week 5. His injury had him placed on injured reserve that October. He returned as the starting left guard in 2023 season only to be benched in Week 4. Following a trade for Ezra Cleveland, Bartch was waived in October that year.

However, the dismissal was only temporary, and he was re-signed to the Jaguars’ practice squad shortly after. The following month, Bartch was signed by the San Francisco 49ers, where he now continues his active football career.