Introduction by Lee Brecheen
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| Mason Martin |
April 26, 2011 - In college football most centers are former offensive guards that usually never played a down of center in high school. It’s hard to sign a true Center for college for DI or IAA, because most of the kids who play the position in high school are undersized, or don’t have the hands or feet to go that level. Most colleges will not sign a center , and hope to convert a 6-2 to 6-3 offensive guard and teach him the position in college. That’s not the case with Mason Martin of Pineville high school, who stands 6-2 in height and weighs 275 pounds. Remember, you don’t have to be 6-4 or 6-5 to play center in college. The average height of a center is 6-1 to 6-2 in DI.
I watched Mason Martin in five full games from the 2010 season, and what impressed me the most about this kid, that you don’t see a lot of in high school, is he fires off the ball every play, and goes after not one but two or more defenders at all times blocking for his team down field. He’s a very smart kid in the classroom sporting a 4.0 GPA, and has a 31 ACT. The offense he plays in allows him run block and pass block in a well balanced scheme. Mason benches 325 pounds, and Cleans 285.
I see Mason playing DI football one day after his high school days are over. This is a kid like I mentioned above that’s smart, has quick feet, has good hands for an offensive lineman, is strong and plays all out. It also doesn’t hurt that you grow up in a football family. His dad Robbie Martin is the head football coach at Pineville high school. For anyone reading this article and you’re not from Pineville, Louisiana, it’s a city located not too far from Alexandria, Louisiana.
I hope you enjoy the interview below done by our talented writer Taylor Williams.
Interview by Taylor Williams
LAFM: What do you like most about the game in terms of the offensive line position(s)?
MM: Really just being competitive, throwing blocks, and hitting somebody. Pretty simple.
LAFM: And what would you say is your biggest strength as a player?
MM: My biggest strength is probably my smarts, my knowledge. And I’m a 4.0 student, a 31 ACT, and have a dad who’s a coach, so I really got to know the game when I was young. Having the knowledge of what everybody is doing on every play really helps a lot.
LAFM: Is that something your coach/dad relies on you for?
MM: Definitely, he expects me to have on-the-field awareness and the ability to switch positions if I need to. I played all five offensive line positions this year at one point or another.
LAFM: Talk a little bit about playing for him.
MM: My sophomore year our head coach retired and he took over in the middle of the year, and that was a strange transition at first, but its been good and I love playing for him. He’s been coaching me in Little League, football, everything sine I was little, plus he spends more time with the defense in practice.
LAFM: Having your dad as your head coach clearly bespeaks a close relationship. How important is it to maintain that by staying close to home?
MM: Ideally yes, I’d want to stay in Louisiana, but if there are better things elsewhere, that’s where I’d go.
LAFM: It also seems to suggest that football is a big part of your family. Has anyone in your family ever played at the collegiate or professional level?
MM: My dad played at Northwestern State for four years.
LAFM: And you’re originally from the Pelican State?
MM: Yes, Pineville, born and raised.
LAFM: What about some of your personal goals for next season?
MM: I want to make All-State this year, and really be a leader on the team by developing last year’s leadership. It’s harder to be a leader as a senior knowing that everybody looks up to you and you gotta help them out.
LAFM: And the team goals?
MM: Well, we haven’t made the playoffs any of my first three years, so that’s the goal now. But we’re definitely getting there and just have to continue with the progress we’ve made.
LAFM: So you can see significant, noticeable team improvement?
MM: Definitely. Two years ago we only won one game, last year we won four, lost two on the last play and two more in the final minute. We’re right there being 8-2 and we’re confident that we’re getting there.
LAFM: What games stand out most at this point in your career, either as rivalries or good personal performances?
MM: Well, our rival Ash High School is definitely the biggest game on our schedule every year because they’re close to us and we know all their players. And the pressure of trying to win district always gives hype for district games.
LAFM: On to college talk, every 17-year olds’ favorite subject. What schools have you gotten looks from at this point?
MM: ULL, ULM, Mississippi State, and some Ivy League schools just for grades and stuff like that.
LAFM: What camps have you been to or are planning to attend?
MM: Definitely ULL and Mississippi State, and I’ll probably go to the LSU camp, and possibly one or two Ivy League camps.
LAFM: Have you though about what you might study or major in?
MM: Not specifically, but I probably want to be a high school football coach when I get older just to stay around football.
LAFM: Do you play other sports that may also carry over to the college level?
MM: I play first base and pitcher on the baseball team, and I do power lifting, but I’m not getting recruited for that.
LAFM: And finally, what are your current height, weight, and forty time?
MM: 6-foot-2, 270 pounds, and 5.2.
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