The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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PLAYER BIOS ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ MARCH 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 47 BY EJ HOLLAND Mason Curtis kicked off Michigan's 2024 recruiting cycle by becoming the first member of the class way back in June 2022. Curtis was a vocal recruiter through- out the entire process and made sure to attend as many visit weekends as possible. With an assist from his peer recruiting, Michigan was able to put to- gether a top-15 class on National Sign- ing Day. "It feels good to see the class build up," Curtis said. "It's amazing to see everybody that joined me. Being the first came with a sense of leadership. I tried to recruit as hard as I could and get other people to join. I told people why Michigan is the best college in the world." The Nashville (Tenn.) Ensworth ath- lete surprised many when he abruptly shut down his recruitment and gave the Wolverines a verbal pledge. Other programs continued to recruit Curtis after his commitment, but those efforts slowly faded. Curtis remained completely solid with Michigan for more than a year and never wavered. "Schools hit me up and tried to give me their best pitch," Curtis said. "It's a blessing to have them show interest after I committed. But I was always fully committed to Michigan. There was never a point where I wanted to take another visit. I don't think there is any school out there that can provide what Michigan has." What does Michigan have that others don't? Development. Michigan is widely regarded as the best program in the country at molding players, especially on the defensive side of the ball. At 6-4, 200 pounds, Curtis was recruited as a positionless athlete on the defensive side of the ball. A jack-of-all-trades, Curtis, the No. 26 linebacker and No. 322 overall re- cruit nationally, has experience playing defensive end, linebacker, cornerback and safety. While U-M listed him as an edge on signing day, Curtis is keeping an open mind. "With Michigan having the best strength and conditioning in the coun- try, I can be one of the best edge players in the country," Curtis said. "But really, I will play wherever. I'm willing to play anything. It really doesn't matter to me. I can be a hybrid safety, too. Keeping my speed and explosiveness is key. I know Michigan will develop me." Ensworth head coach Roc Batten isn't exactly sure what Curtis will grow into, but he knows he'll be a valuable piece to Michigan's defensive puzzle in the years to come. "He's a football player," Batten said. "Me being from Detroit, I know that Michigan likes football players. He can play so many positions at a high level and make an impact. He has unbeliev- able ball skills, he tackles well, he can rush the passer and do so many things. It's all about how they see him fitting in. But I think the sky is the limit for him. His best football is down the line." ❑ Mason Curtis Was The First Michigan Commit In The 2024 Cycle Curtis, the No. 26 linebacker and No. 322 overall recruit nationally, pledged to Michigan in June 2022. He was recruited as a position- less athlete on defense, and U-M listed him as an edge on signing day. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND 2024 Projection Cur s doesn't have a true posi on, as mul ple coaches were involved in his recruitment through- out the process. A lot will depend on his physical development in the Michigan strength and condi- oning program. He is expected to redshirt this coming season and will likely need another year of development before making an impact. STATISTICS Year Tackles TFL Other 2023 31 3.0 4 PBU 2022 28 2.5 3 INT 2021 38 6.0 3 FF HONORS • Tennessee D2-AAA West All-Region (2023). • Named to The Tennessean's 2023 Dandy Dozen. • PrepStar All-Southeast Region (2023). • Red Zone All State D2-AAA honorable men on (2022). • Tennessee D2-AAA West All-Region honorable men on (2022). RECRUITMENT • Pledged to Michigan June 27, 2022, a er receiving offer in April 2022. • Picked U-M over notable offers from Michigan State, South Carolina and Tennessee. • Recruited by former U-M cornerbacks coach Steve Clinkscale. DID YOU KNOW? • Scored 2 defensive touchdowns as a senior. • Part of same training program, NPA, as former U-M linebacker Junior Colson. • Also le ered in basketball at Ensworth. • Brother, Devyn, is a linebacker at Middle Ten- nessee State. • Son of Rodney and Dawn Cur s. • Born Aug. 15, 2005. THEY SAID IT On3 director of scou ng and rankings Charles Power: "Mason Cur s is an extremely rangy defender. He's tall at 6-foot-4. He plays really well in space. He has a linebacker frame but has played a lot as a safety. "He's going to need to con nue to fill out. He has high developmental upside. He's a guy that's a couple of years away from playing his best football but has a lot of poten al, given his frame, movement skills and versa lity." MASON CURTIS EDGE 6-4 • 200 ENSWORTH SCHOOL NASHVILLE, TENN. RANKINGS* STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 322 26 8 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 32 10 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 30 8 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 234 13 4 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 15 4 * Rated as a linebacker by all four media services. INDUSTRY