Alabama A&M: Mason hopes to recapture 2009 success

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -Deaunte Mason showed up two years ago at Alabama A&M with little fanfare.

He had been redshirted at Kentucky, and after moving from quarterback to tight end during the spring of 2009, the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder began looking for a place where he could play quarterback again.

He chose to transfer to A&M, and midway through the season had wrestled the job away from starter Kevin Atkins.

Mason started the last five games and accounted for almost 1,500 yards in total offense and 12 touchdowns while leading the Bulldogs to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game, where they fell to Prairie View 30-24.

Last season was completely different.

Mason suffered a severe groin injury and missed four games, including the last three games of the season, as A&M struggled through a 3-8 campaign. The problems he encountered last season, Mason said, made him appreciate football even more.

"I'm grateful to be playing again," he said. "You don't know how much you miss something until it is taken away from you."

Mason withstood a challege from UAB transfer David Isabelle during the spring and summer and is clearly A&M's top gun going into the season.

"They brought him in to replace me," Mason said. "I don't know if that was the case, but I heard that around town. Competition is always good. It either makes you better or worse. It made me better."

A&M coach Anthony Jones says Mason has come a long way in his time with the Bulldogs.

"When he got here, he didn't know anything about our offense or college football," Jones said. "He was gifted, but he hadn't played in a college football game. Now, he's more mature. He's more of a leader.



He's more experienced and more knowledgeable in every sense of the word. He understands the offense, the defense and more importantly, he understands what he can and what his body is capable of doing.

"He didn't know that last year. Because he was young and strong, he thought he could overcome anything. Sometimes you have to have a setback to move forward. Now that he's had a setback, he has a better understanding of what he can and can't do and I think that's going to help him and help us as a football team."

Mason is eager to put the memories of last season behind him and prove that 2009 wasn't a fluke.

"I think last year will be good for us because we know how it feels to go 3-8 and we don't want that feeling again," he said. "Having gone through that, I think I'm a much better quarterback. From last year to now, I think people will see a big difference."

Jones says Mason is coming into his own as a quarterback.

"He has stepped up," Jones said. "He stepped up his level of commitment. He stepped up in terms of watching film, being prepared, being in shape and being a leader. He's starting to be what I envisioned him to be when we first got him. When we first got him, he was young, uncertain of himself, but talented.

"I told him if he worked hard and did certain things, he could leave a heck of a legacy. He's got a chance because he's done everything we've asked him to do. If this kid stays healthy, I'm looking for him to have a great year."