Ben Mason Playing FB, per Harbaugh
On today's Pardon My Take (link in previous board post), Harbuagh mentions that Ben Mason is someone who's built to be a fullback. I know many people thought he would eventually wind up there, but it appears that transition may be happening sooner than anticipated. I wouldn't count him out as a LB, but he appears to be getting looks at FB already as an early enrolee.
I'd recommend the entire interview (and podcast as a whole). Very entertaining.
We want our own Marecic!
He also introduced the topic with "We have this Freshman Linebacker Ben Mason" so i think both may be true
NICKNAME CONTEST!!!
The Hammer Ball Jar?
The Bricklayer?
#BenMasonSecretlyRulesTheWorld?
"Bam" Mason just sounds awesome to me.
I like this one the best
Ben Mason is a throwback player. Bam or Bam Bam sounds like some nickname they'd use back in the day
You just got Big Bennie Bitch Slapped
But at LB we could have "Mason jars the ball loose!"
or Brick Shithouse.
I sat next to him on a bus twice a week last semester, he was talking a few times about how he thought he would be starting fullback this season. I thought he was just BSing but maybe he was right if Harbaugh is saying that
Love the attitude, but he is behind an NFL fullback. Unless he knows of a Khalid Hill injury that nobody else knows about, he is incorrect.
would move back to H-back / inline TE if Mason was tearing things up at FB.
We don't really have anyone in that inline spot behind Wheatley due to the (welp!) Asiasi transfer. Maybe McKeon if he has added the necessary strenght but the others are all flex type TEs.
Either way, it would be good to know there are some options if the injury bug hits.
I certainly don't think a full-time move is possible. Hill is too valuable at the regular fullback position. I could definitely see Hill learning some new stuff to get both of them on the field at the same time. Harbaugh will absolutely get two jumbo backs out there at the same time. Hill is obviously very athletic and has great hands for a FB, so I could see a package where both are in the backfield and Hill is in a route and Mason is in pass pro. If he is doing well he could certainly pass Poggi, but Hill won't be displaced as the main FB.
be a move back to where he started. I thought he looked pretty good there.
You're missing the obvious answer that we are starting two fullbacks.
he is incorrect. He's the one at practice and for all we know he's been tearing it up and playing better then Hill. Hill did a great job last year, but it wouldn't shock me if someone with Mason's size and athleticisim came in and out played him. Either way I like his attitude and hope he does a great job there for 4 years.
He's incorrect. Wish I could be quicker.
Starting on the scout team? Seems doubtful unless Hill is back at sometype of hybrid TE/FB position and Poggi is severly injured.
Khalid Hill is much more a jumbo athlete than he is a pure fullback. And if Ben is the real deal at FB like coach says, he could easily jump Poggi who has never impressed much
Coach says he is built like a Fullback, not that he is a playing well at the position (let alone well enough to displace a senior starter).
Good thing it is only May!
I believe the line about starting is 3rd party, from a guy who sat on a bus next to Mason.
At best it sounds like a kid reading in to what coach said to him. The best play. + You do this better than anybody I've ever seen. = I could start!
He's been repping at both FB and LB this whole time. FB is obviously the preferred destination he is being guided towards.
Don Brown loves this kid too. He was pushing for time behind McCray, but ended up 3rd on the depth chart at the end of spring.
Given the impending logjam at linebacker with the fleet of 4 and 5 star recruits coming in, FB would seem to be a logical place for Ben. After the Panda graduates, there will be room for another FB/HBack.
You have to admit selling someone on being an Owen Marecic is a pretty good sales tool and frankly, it's wise to at least begin introducing the idea as there is currently a ton of depth at linebacker and comparitiviely little at fullback. I like the concept now to see how it plays out.
He repped at both FB and LB this spring.
On the same play. He's like Peppers, but more versatile.
Fred Jackson'd
Apologies if the link to this article about the impact that Ben Mason has had on his hometown of Newtown, Connecticut since the horrific murders at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012 has been posted here before, but I think that it's worth re-posting as a reminder of Ben Mason's special character. It seems like he perfectly fits the description of "Leaders and Best."
“Michigan Recruit Ben Mason’s Contributions to Newtown Community Run Far Deeper Than Football”
I never thought about Ben Mason as a fullback but now that I think about it after seeing his size in the spring game he might be perfect for the position
Ben "the Stone" Mason