The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/787035
MARCH 2017 THE WOLVERINE 67 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE MEASURABLES • At Nike's regional camp in New Jersey, Mason ran a 4.88 40-yard dash and a 4.27 20-yard shuttle. He also recorded a 29.3-inch vertical jump and a 40-foot power throw resulting in a Nike+ Football Rating of 101.11. • Recorded a bench-press maximum of 420 pounds and a squat max of 535 pounds. STATISTICS • Mason notched 63 tackles, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two interceptions (one returned for a touch- down), 0.5 sacks and one pass breakup his senior season. He also had 80 carries for 719 yards and 11 touchdowns, as well as 15 catches for 188 yards and three touchdowns. • As a junior, he had 113 tackles, including 11 for a loss, along with four sacks, a fumble recovery and four intercep- tions, three of which he returned for touchdowns. Mason also ran the ball 43 times for 231 yards and six touchdowns, to go with 24 receptions for 416 yards and nine touchdowns. • During his sophomore season, Mason notched 110 tack- les, six tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He also ran the ball 12 times for 53 yards and a touchdown. • Newton lost just five games with Mason in uniform and reached the Class LL state playoffs each year. HONORS • Became the first from Connecticut to be honored on the Parade All-America team since 2013 by earning honorable mention in 2016. • Named Gatorade 2016 Player of the Year for Connecticut and New Haven Register Player of the Year as a senior. • Selected to the New Haven Register and Connecticut High School Coaches Association All-State teams the final three years of his career. • Picked to the USA Today All-USA Connecticut first team and listed as the Connecticut Defensive Player of the Year for 2016. Was a second–team member as a junior and first-team selection as a sophomore. • Chosen as one of the Connecticut High School Coaches Association's Top 20 players for 2016. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Participated in Nike's Regional Camp in New Jersey and came away with MVP honors for the linebacker group. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Michigan May 2, 2016, prior to his senior season and did not officially visit any other schools. • Chose U-M over offers from California, Duke, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin, among others. NOTABLE • Born May 25, 1999. • Missed his final game due to an undisclosed injury. • Tied a state record for career interceptions returned for a touchdown with five. Former Major League Baseball man- ager Bobby Valentine previously held the mark. • Is an early enrollee at Michigan. 2017 PROJECTION Mason has college-ready size but maybe not quite the ath- leticism or speed required at high-level Division I football. He can also play fullback or H-back, however, which gives him value on both sides of the ball. Mason could be valuable on special teams early. THEY SAID IT Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst Adam Fried- man: "He's an absolute thumper in the middle of the field. He brings a physical presence, especially against the running game. He comes downhill, sheds blockers and makes plays in the backfield." Newtown Head Coach Steve George: "Ben is an unusual kid because he has a lot of skills. We've used him everywhere on both sides of the ball. He's very versatile, he has great hands, he blocks well, he tackles everything, he's smart — he really understands offense and defense. He has the tools to do everything we ask him to. I expect him to turn some heads at Michigan because he's that type of kid and he'll work his way onto the field." Defensive Coordinator Don Brown: "Ben's greatest as- set is his demeanor, which is fitting for a linebacker. He is a tremendous run defender, especially between the tackles, where he is at his best. Another positive quality about Ben as a player is that he has unique athletic ability for his size. He plays with a tremendous attitude and will chase the ball from sideline to sideline." BEN MASON INSIDE LINEBACKER 6-3 • 247 NEWTOWN H.S. NEWTOWN, CONN. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — 35 6 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 71 (DE) 5 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 36 6 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 30 (OLB) 3 Mason was Connecticut's Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN RIVALS.COM MID-ATLANTIC RECRUITING ANALYST ADAM FRIEDMAN "He's an absolute thumper in the middle of the field. He brings a physical presence, especially against the running game."