Mason Scouting Report (vs. Walled Lake Western)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the fourth straight year, Mason is in the Semifinals. I'll admit that I didn't expect Mason to get this far this season. They lost a ton of talent in the class of 2024, but they remain one of the most fundamentally sound teams in Michigan. On paper, Walled Lake Western had more talent. In reality, Mason played with far better fundamentals and made plays when they mattered most. Here are quick evaluations of five players I watched from Mason. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["589851"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67392e20ad472"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Every single time I've watched Cason in person, he's improved. Seriously- in the maybe dozen times I've watched Cason in person, every single time, I've seen improvement. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This time around, I loved how Cason has improved his timing and mechanics. His mechanics still aren't perfect, but they are consistent at the very least, and MUCH improved than in years past. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cason has vastly improved his anticipation and overall connection with his receivers. I came away consistently impressed with Cason's ability to hit a man just as he's coming out of his break. Can't wait to see what Cason accomplishes in College! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1559749,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1560674' first='Rory' last='Wendt']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"285","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mason","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67392e20ad539"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rory immediately stood out because of his size. Any college loves to see someone as tall as Rory. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Though, Rory is very raw. He did well on both sides of the ball- he was an unmovable object on defense and a brick wall on offense. Generally, Rory would really benefit from better athleticism. If he can become a better athlete, he'll be a great asset for any NAIA - D2 college program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1559751,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Owen Adaway","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"195","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mason","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67392e20ad5c4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owen caught my eye a few times. I didn't watch him super closely, but I noted a critical fourth-quarter sack, and a few other instances of great play speed. He's a just a straight-up solid high school football player. I hope to see Hudl highlights soon so I can evaluate him further! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1290515"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1559749,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67392e20ad607"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caleb played an excellent game. Largely because of Caleb, Walled Lake Western really struggled to establish the inside run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Above all, Caleb is physical. Excellent physicality, refusing to be blocked. He also reacts exceptionally well to inside runs. He fills his gaps, wraps up on tackles, and even makes sure the RB doesn't fall forward. Great LB play, and a D3 prospect in my book. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1559749,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1613575' first='Troy' last='Peters']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mason","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67392e20ad774"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm very happy I got to watch [player_tooltip player_id='1613575' first='Troy' last='Peters']. I heard about him in the offseason- a great 2028 prospect who'd be starting for Mason. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I note how smart Troy is. Defensively, he consistently showed excellent instincts. On top of that, Troy had several QB hits. Especially on passing downs, I was super impressed with Troy's ability to drop back and, when convenient, rush the passer. I also know that Troy's made several excellent plays on offense throughout the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Troy is a star in the making. All signs point toward a sensational Freshman "rookie" season, and I look forward to seeing how his career plays out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->