The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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66 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2017 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY CHRIS BALAS Since the day Sandy Hook (Conn.) Newtown standout Ben Mason com- mitted last May, Michigan fans have been speculating about his future. Many believe Rivals.com's No. 35 in- side linebacker prospect nationally will eventually move to fullback, because in addition to being physically ready — he's now a reported 6-3, 247 pounds — he ran 80 times for 719 yards and 11 touchdowns last year, and has the frame to be a devastating blocker. Mason would be willing, if asked, but it's clear where his heart is. "In my mind, I'm a linebacker," the early enrollee said Feb. 1 following an appearance at U-M's Signing of the Stars event. "That would be my pref- erence. But I'm going to do whatever they need me to do." Keeping him on defense would likely be Michigan defensive coordi- nator Don Brown's wish, too. Brown, formerly at Boston College, has been keeping tabs on the Newtown star since Mason's freshman year of high school, and Mason has only continued to progress. He combines desire with significant strength — now a reported 420-pound maximum bench press and a 535-pound best squat — but insists he hasn't lost a step of quickness on his heavier frame. He's also got a trait both Brown and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh absolutely love. "I like contact a lot," Mason assured, one of the reasons he loves Brown's de- fense. "It's just very attack style. You're always going at someone. You're the hammer, not the nail." He and Brown hit it off early in the recruiting process, he continued. "It's just how passionate he is about the game," Mason said. "I haven't been around many coaches that, when you're around him, you can just feel the fire through the air. "I did a camp with him when I was getting recruited at Boston College, and it was just a lot of fun. He's just very passionate in the way he coaches." Brown will likely vie to keep the Walter Camp and Gatorade Player of the Year for Connecticut on the de- fensive side of the ball, and that could end up being Mason's best position. The chiseled standout recorded a com- bined 176 tackles as a junior and senior for Newtown High School, along with 14 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and six in- terceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns (he tied a state record with five in his career). His team went 10-0 in the regular season, but a lingering knee injury kept him out of the Class LL playoffs, a 55-21 quarterfinal loss to Shelton that eliminated the Nighthawks. Mason would have surgery for a torn meniscus in the days following, but he's now 100 percent healthy and working out as a Michigan freshman. "He looks like Andrew Luck to me," Harbaugh said in comparing Mason to his former quarterback at Stanford, now an NFL standout in Indianapolis. "They've got the same personality … very intense and a 4.0 student. He's a real go-getter. "We connected right away — I made friends with him right off the bat." Mason feels like he's ahead of the game in one area that prep performers have to quickly learn upon reaching the next level. "One thing that is pretty important to my game is just how well I take on blocks," he said. "I use my hands pretty well, and that's one of the best parts of my game … and my competi- tive nature. I like to compete." He senses the same among the other members of the 2017 recruiting class, including the 10 others who enrolled early with him. "We're getting some big guys com- ing to this school," Mason said. "It's really just a testament to this program and Coach Harbaugh and the staff. "You just see a lot of guys that are excited about the future. That's really good for the program. Coach Harbaugh talks about that enthusiasm unknown to mankind — I think I see that." That's how he approaches every game, every snap. There are no yards after contact once he hits a ball carrier, and he's very instinctive, leading to many tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage. He's an old-school run- stuffer who doesn't lose ground with false steps. Mason also shows good straight-line speed no matter where he lines up, and while changing direction quickly isn't one of his strong suits, he could slim down to improve his flexibility and mobility, making him more of an asset on passing downs. Either way, he sees himself as a per- fect fit for what Brown likes to do. "At that position you want to be re- ally aggressive and physical, and that's exactly what that defense is," Mason said. "Attack style, striking the offen- sive lineman, getting off and making plays. "As a linebacker, I couldn't be more excited." ❏ Ben Mason Could Be A Force On Offense Or Defense In his final prep campaign, Mason posted 63 tackles (three for loss) on defense while also compiling 907 total yards and 14 touchdowns on offense despite a lingering knee injury. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM