Atlanta’s Batton Finds His Groove Under New Coach
ATLANTA, Texas — When Tyler Morton took over as head coach of the Atlanta Rabbits in 2022, he knew his first priority was clear — get the ball into the hands of sophomore standout Markeylin Batton.
Batton had shown flashes of brilliance as a freshman cornerback in 2021, wowing coaches and fans alike with his blazing speed and dynamic ball skills. But those moments were fleeting, as his role kept him more focused on preventing plays than making them on offense.
With Morton’s arrival — and his brother Andrew stepping in as offensive coordinator — the plan changed. The Batton experiment would no longer be about waiting for highlights; it would be about creating them.
“We knew from very early on that he was special,” Morton said. “Athletically and toughness-wise, there was something different about him, even compared to other guys. His explosiveness, that natural twitch — it was unlike anybody I had coached before.”
The result has been a more prominent role for Batton, who now has more opportunities to showcase the raw athleticism that once appeared only in flashes. For Atlanta, it’s a change that could pay big dividends on Friday nights.
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