UMass safety Javon Batten made an unfavorable first impression when coach Don Brown convened the Minutemen for the opening of spring ball.

The 6-3, 200-pound sophomore from Brooklyn eventually caught on to Brown’s methodologies and meticulously worked his way up the depth chart to a starting job.

Batten will make his second career start when UMass (0-2) hosts Stony Brook (0-1) in the home opener on Saturday (3:30 p.m.) at McGuirk Stadium.

“There was a time during spring I might have traded him in for two used footballs,” said Brown. “But he certainly just continued to grow and get better and become more attentive and more assertive with his teammates.

“I just think his best days are certainly in front of him and the confidence is starting to show in him.”

Batten played scholastically for nationally-known Erasmus Hall High School in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn and was used primarily on the Minutemen’s special teams last season.

Brown gave Batten his first start in last Saturday’s 55-10 loss at Toledo and got more than he expected from his untested rover. Batten led UMass with seven tackles that included four solos against the Rockets.

“He really had his first action as a guy playing the majority of the game and I thought he did very well,” said Brown. “I thought he played extremely well for a first-time starter.

“He can really run. He’s one of those guys that is 6-3 and 200-plus pounds and can run and those guys are hard to find.”

Brown began his second tenure at UMass recognized as one of the best defensive strategists in college football, a reputation earned during his coordinator time at Maryland, Connecticut, Boston College, Michigan and Arizona. Brown’s standing in the FBS community can be intimidating to a young wannabe learning a new system.

By the end of training camp, Batten had come to terms with his situation and became a physical and vocal presence in the Minutemen’s defensive backfield.

“I think I had coach’s issues at first and I wasn’t coachable,” said Batten. “But then I realized that he was trying to help me. I started listening to the coaches and developed better as a player over the spring and the summer.”