Tuesday, Apr. 27, 2010
Bronco Baston
John Beaudoin, Journal Publisher
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The last time I saw Jaron Baston, in person that is, was in March of 2005.
At the time, Baston, a senior at Blue Springs High School, was throwing around a wrestler from Kansas at the Missouri-Kansas Metro Wrestling Classic. His win capped a stellar senior season where Baston won the state heavyweight title and along with fellow senior and state champion, Louis Caputo, helped his squad to a third place finish in Columbia.
Of course, wrestling was not Baston’s first love. Still, he was darn entertaining to watch on the wrestling mat all those years. The same tenacity and work ethic Baston brought to the football field came with him during wrestling season.
Baston was a menace to his opponents, whether he was on the football field or the wrestling mat.
I always like to see competitive wrestlers stay in the sport, but I understood then that Baston’s athletic passions were truly on the football field.
The big man in the purple and gold was one of the top defensive ends in the country coming out of high school, an all-state selection both his junior and senior seasons and played a pivotal role as a junior to help lead Blue Springs to the state title over Hazelwood Central in 2003.
It’s a good thing he stuck with football, too.
After four strong years and redshirt season for the University of Missouri, Baston was signed over the weekend as an undrafted free agent by the Denver Broncos.
The 6-foot-1, 305 pound defensive lineman could have a promising future ahead of him in professional football, joining fellow Blue Springs alum like Ladell Betts and Brandon Lloyd, both of whom have assumed key roles in the National Football League.
After his successful high school athletic career, I enjoyed watching Baston continue to fly around the field for Mizzou. It was obvious to a lot of us that he has a bright future ahead of him and, perhaps, he could be that tiny percentage of high school athletes that ever see the professional field.
And if he has dreams of wearing an NFL uniform some Sunday, he signed with the right team to do it. One of the Broncos’ best career wide receivers, Rod Smith, was an undrafted free agent. In the past two seasons, five undrafted free agents have seen playing time for the Broncos. Another eight players will make the practice squad for Denver this season.
If Baston shines at rookie camp and shows the tenacity on the field that he did as a Wildcat and a Tiger, I have a hard time believing he won’t be another success story.
John Beaudoin is publisher of the Blue Springs Journal. To respond to today’s commentary, call 816-282-7001 or e-mail editor@bluespringsjournal.com.
