Ben Mason

Class:
Sophomore
Position:
FB
Height:
6-3
Weight:
254
Hometown:
Newtown, Conn.
High School:
Newtown

CAREER HIGHS
• Tackles: 3 - vs. Middle Tennessee St. (Aug. 31, 2019)
• Solos: 2 - vs. Penn State (Nov. 3, 2018)
• Asst: 2, 2x last vs Army (Sept. 7, 2019)
• TFLs: none
• Sacks: none
• Int: none
• FR: none
• PBUs: none

Rushing
• Attempts: 6 - vs. Nebraska (Sept. 22, 2018)
• Yards: 18 - vs. Nebraska (Sept. 22, 2018)
• Touchdowns: 3 - vs. Nebraska (Sept. 22, 2018)
• Long: 6 - 2x last vs. Maryland (Oct. 6, 2018)

Receiving
• Catches: 1, 3x - last at Michigan State (Oct. 31, 2020)
• Yards: 15 - vs. Maryland (Oct. 6, 2018)
• TDs: 1 - at Minnesota (Oct. 24, 2020)
• Long: 15 - vs. Maryland (Oct. 6, 2018)

At Michigan
• Two-time recipient of the team's Toughest Player award (2017, '19)
• Appeared in 45 games in his Michigan career with four starting assignments: one at defensive tackle and three at fullback
• Became the first Wolverine to score three touchdowns in the first half of a game since Denard Robinson (vs. SDSU, 2011) against Nebraska (2018)
• Prior to the 2019 season, switched positions from fullback to defensive line
• Four-year letterwinner (2017-18-19-20)
• Three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2018-19-20)
• 2021 NFF Hampshire Honor Society member
• Voted a Team Captain by his teammates (2020)

Senior (2020)
• Appeared in all six games as an H-Back/Tight End and special teams contributor; caught two passes for 17 yards with a touchdown to earn his fourth varsity letter
• Academic All-Big Ten honoree
• Shared Offensive Player of the Week honors with three running back teammates for his performance against Minnesota
• Caught an eight-yard touchdown pass playing an H-Back at Minnesota (Oct. 24) and helped block for several touchdowns
• Started in the back field and caught one nine-yard pass against Michigan State (Oct. 31)
• Contributed on special teams and out of the backfield against Wisconsin (Nov. 14), Penn State (Nov. 28), at Indiana (Nov.7)
• Played H-Back snaps at Rutgers (Nov. 21)

Junior (2019)
• Appeared in all 13 games with one start on the defensive line, transitioning to offense in October; made seven tackles and contributed on special teams to earn his third varsity letter
• Academic All-Big Ten honoree
• Started and made three stops in his first game along the defensive line against Middle Tennessee State (Aug. 31)
• Assisted on two tackles playing defensive line against Army (Sept. 7)
• Assisted on four tackles at Wisconsin (Sept. 21)
• Played along the defensive line and on special teams against Rutgers (Sept. 28) and Iowa (Oct. 5)
• Saw one target and blocked for several touchdowns playing fullback and contributing on special teams at Illinois (Oct. 12)
• Played fullback and special teams at Penn State (Oct. 19)
• Made a solo stop playing special teams against Notre Dame (Oct. 26)
• Played fullback at Maryland (Nov. 2) and also contributed on special teams
• Contributed as a fullback, tight end, and on special teams against Michigan (Nov. 16)
• Played fullback and made one assisted tackle on special teams against Alabama in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1)

Sophomore (2018)
• Appeared in all 13 games at fullback and on special teams; recorded 33 rushing attempts for 80 yards and seven touchdowns, caught one pass for 15 yards, and made five tackles to earn his second varsity letter
• Academic All-Big Ten honoree
• Recognized as the Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Penn State
• Delivered the Big Hit of the Week against Penn State
• Played fullback and contributed on special teams at Notre Dame (Sept. 1) and against Western Michigan (Sept. 8)
• Scored his first touchdown of the season on a one-yard plunge against SMU (Sept. 15), finishing with three carries for six yards while also contributing on special teams
• Scored a career-high three touchdowns on a career-best six carries against Nebraska (Sept. 22), totaling 18 yards which also marked a career high
• Carried the ball twice for five yards while playing fullback and contributing on special teams at Northwestern (Sept. 29)
• Carried the ball five times and caught it once to total 27 yards with one touchdown on the ground against Maryland (Oct. 6) and also assisted on one special teams tackle
• Scored one touchdown on four carries totaling 15 yards at Michigan State (Oct. 20)
• Totaled four carries for 10 yards against Penn State (Nov. 3), and also made two tackles playing on special teams
• Carried the ball twice for two yards against Rutgers (Nov. 10) and also played special teams
• Carried the ball twice for five yards playing fullback and contributing on special teams against Indiana (Nov. 17)
• Carried the ball three times for seven total yards with one touchdown at Ohio State (Nov. 24)
• Earned two against Florida in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl (Dec. 29) and also contributed on special teams, assisting on one tackle

Freshman (2017)
• Recipient of the team's Toughest Player award
• Earned Co-Special Teams Player of the Game honors for his role in the win over Minnesota
• Contributed on special teams in all 13 games and played nine at fullback, scoring two touchdowns with four rushing yards, and also made two solo tackles on special teams and earned his first varsity letter
• Made his collegiate debut against Florida at the Advocare Classic (Sept. 2), contributing on special teams
• Saw snaps at fullback and as a special teams contributor against Cincinnati (Sept. 9), Air Force (Sept. 16), Purdue (Sept. 23), Rutgers (Oct. 28), Minnesota (Nov. 4) and Maryland (Nov. 11)
• Contributed on special teams against Michigan State (Oct. 7) and against Penn State (Oct. 21)
• Made his first career special teams tackle against Indiana (Oct. 14)
• On his first career carry, dove into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown run at Wisconsin (Nov. 18), where he also contributed on special teams
• Made his first career start against Ohio State (Nov. 25), taking one carry for two yards while playing snaps at full-back and on special teams
• Scored a touchdown on a one-yard dive in the Outback Bowl against South Carolina (Jan. 1), and also contributed on special teams

Prep
• Attended Newtown High School (2017) coached by Steve George
• Helped lead Newtown to a 10-1 record and a Class LL playoff appearance
• The Nighthawks lost just five games in his time at Newtown, with three South-West Conference titles and four consecutive playoff appearances

Key Statistics
• Recorded 63 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown and forced two fumbles as a senior
• Ran the ball 80 times for 719 yards and scored 11 touchdowns senior year
• Caught 15 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns as a senior
• Amassed 113 tackles, 11 TFLs, four sacks, a fumble recovery and four interceptions as a junior
• Carried the ball 43 times for 231 yards and six touchdowns junior year while catching 24 balls for 416 touchdowns and nine TDs
• Registered 110 tackles, 6 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and a pair of interceptions during his sophomore season

Honors and Rankings
• Rivals three-star prospect
• ESPN four-star prospect, rated No. 3 player in Connecticut and the No. 29 OLB prospect nationally
• 247.com three-star recruit and ranked as the No. 5 player in Connecticut
• PrepStar three-star recruit, named PrepStar All-East Region
• First team all-state as a junior and senior
• 2016 Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year
• 2016 Defensive Player of the Year in Connecticut as named by USA Today
• Became the first player from Connecticut to be honored on the Parade All-American team since 2013 by earning an honorable mention as a senior
• 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 a first-member as a sophomore
• 2015 and 2016 CHSCA All-State First Team
• Two-time New Haven Register first team all-state performer
• 2016 Walter Camp All-Connecticut selection and Connecticut Player of the Year

Personal
• Ben Mason was born May 25, 1999
• Enrolled in the Stephen M. Ross School of Business pursuing a business administration degree

Coach Don Brown on Ben Mason
"Ben's greatest asset 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. We are glad to have him at Michigan."

In the Words of the Mason Family
"Ben is a people person as he is very engaging and has an infectious personality that people want to be around. Ben has always had a big presence, both physically and mentally, which are great attributes to go along with his booming deep voice. Ben played all sports growing up, and it became very clear his aggressive, tough nature was going to lead him to love the sport of football. He is the type of person that goes from point A to point B with every ounce of energy he has and enjoys the physical aspect of arriving.

"One of the qualities Ben has that makes our family most proud is that he is a very humble person that thinks beyond himself, which is rare for all the success he has had athletically and academically. One of Ben's best traits is his work ethic as he has an extremely strong determination on the field, in the classroom and constantly in the weight room. He has always been the type of person that couldn't care less about what number he wears or how flashy he looks."