COMMITMENT PROFILE
FILM EVALUATION
Strengths: When Ben Mason hits a ball carrier, there will be no yards after
contact. He brings plenty of force to his tackles. He's also instinctive in the line-
backer corps, allowing him to make many of those tackles at or behind the line
of scrimmage. He's a true, old-school run stuffer, who is decisive and doesn't
lose ground with false steps.
He also shows good straight-line speed at not only the linebacker position,
but also several spots on offense, including running back and tight end. That
versatility is something that Jim Harbaugh's coaching staff loves — and has
used over the years with two-way players like Jabrill Peppers and Henry Poggi.
Areas Of Improvement: While he does run fast, changing direction isn't one
of Mason's strong suits. That will make it tough for him to consistently cover
running backs, slot receivers and even the more athletic tight ends on passing
routes.
Unlike most high school linebackers, he's already built like a college player,
so he could slim down to improve his flexibility and mobility, making him even
more of an asset on passing downs.
Michigan Player Comparison: Kenny Demens (2008-12) entered college as a
stocky, run-stuffing linebacker who also moonlighted as a running back for his
high school team. He became more comfortable in pass defense as his career
progressed, and Mason has the opportunity to do the same.
— Analysis from TheWolverine.com
