Michigan's Freshman Offensive Tackle in Uncharted Waters
11/12/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Freshmen became eligible to play NCAA football in 1972, and Mason Cole has done something that none of Michigan's 32 All-American offensive linemen since then accomplished.
The left tackle from East Lake High in Palm Harbor, Florida, became the first U-M true freshman to start a season opener on the offensive line, and his 10 starts are easily the most by any true freshman on the O-Line in program history. All-American Bubba Paris, who won three Super Bowl rings with the San Francisco 49ers, is the only other Wolverine to start even one game at tackle as a true freshman.
"It's special to me, and it's special to the history of this great university," Cole said. "My family's proud of me, and everyone's proud of me, but I just do what I'm told and keep working."
Michigan head coach Brady Hoke loves Cole's attitude and lights up when asked about him.
"And you don't hear about him -- from sacks or anything," said Hoke. "I was asked about him by a guy at Weber's Inn (where Hoke speaks to fans every Monday). And I said, 'You don't hear about him, so he's doing all right.' And he just goes about his business, and I'm real proud of him.
"He doesn't get overly excited. I mean, he's got a demeanor that's pretty calm. He just does his job and to the best of his abilities."
Hoke said Cole's maturity level at age 18 is unusual, and that also helps account for his success one year after leaving high school.
"Coach (Bob) Hudson and the whole staff at East Lake helped me so much," said Cole. "They prepared me for college football with the program they run there. They taught me character and taught me the game -- especially Coach Hudson."
Cole (6-foot-5, 292 pounds) also was a four-year starter at East Lake, a powerhouse program near Tampa and said the last time he didn't start a game was in youth leagues. He grew seven inches to 6-3 between seventh and eighth grade and was on his way to becoming a dominant lineman.
He said there was "no way" he expected to start the majority of his freshman year. But he said coming to Michigan in January helped him develop quicker.
"I've learned a lot," said Cole, "and it's all been good. I think I've done pretty good and handled myself decently."
Cole also was recruited by Alabama, Notre Dame, USC and Florida State. However, he wanted to play in the Big Ten and follow in the footsteps of his maternal grandfather, Tony Bex, whom Cole said played one year with Dick Butkus at Illinois in the 1960s.
"He's my biggest fan," said Cole of his grandfather, who resides in Batavia, Ill., where Cole lived until moving to Florida 10 years ago. "And so I look up to him a lot and what he's done. He just motivates me a lot, and my uncles, Todd Bex and Troy Bex, played college football. So, I come from a football family."
Todd was an offensive tackle and nose guard at Northern Illinois, and Troy played quarterback for Augustana (Ill.) College, where he was a member of Division III national championship teams while being named the most inspirational player on the 1985 champs. Grandpa played fullback and on the defensive line for the Illini.
"The game's a lot different now, and he only played on the freshman and jayvee team (at Illinois)," said Cole, "but he just reminds me that it's only a game and to go out there and have fun."
Cole said running out of the tunnel for the first time before a game at Michigan Stadium for the opener with Appalachian State "was the first time it really hit me," and he admitted to being nervous. But he held his own almost immediately and said junior center Jack Miller has helped him the most.
"He told me not to worry about it, and everything would be fine -- just stay cool, and that it's just a game," said Cole. "He helped me through it."
He also credited the Wolverines' coaches: "We have such a great staff, and they care so much about their players. So, it's awesome."
But there's much left to accomplish.
"I'm still young, so there's a lot to get better at," Cole said.
Cole said he was more "hesitant" in the early games but has made strides to adjust to the tempo of the college game.
"It's just bigger people and a faster game," said Wolverines linebacker Joe Bolden. "And I think it's (Cole's) ability to adjust to that quickly (that) is what's outstanding. Mason's a good football player. He gets off the ball. He knows how to use his hands, his feet. He moves his feet well, and if he has a chance to put you on your butt he's going to do it."
Cole said playing basketball and lacrosse before high school helped him develop footwork.
"I've always been told I'm athletic, and I've had great training," Cole said. "So, I give the credit to other people."
Cole has a big heart and is a giver. He went one year without cutting his hair in order to donate it to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to children suffering from long-term medical conditions.
"A coordinator at my high school, who I had a great relationship with, Darius Holtzclaw, had a daughter who had cancer, and he started doing that, and I decided to do it with him," Cole said.
Later, Cole said, "I try to do the right things on the field and off the field, too."
He said he tries to emulate the playing styles of Michigan's last two All-America offensive tackles, Jake Long (2006-07) and Taylor Lewan (2012-13), both of whom were two-time consensus selections and first-round picks.
Neither Long, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, nor Lewan, the 11th overall pick this year by the Tennessee Titans, played as true freshmen. Both were redshirted in the years they arrived.
Cole is in uncharted waters at Michigan, but everything has gone swimmingly for him so far.
