Veteran fifth-year senior, third-year starting defensive end... 35 career
games played, 19 career starts... Sat out spring camp rehabbing shin
injury... Has benched 435 pounds, recorded 32 reps in 225-pound bench
press.
2011 (Junior): Played in all 13 games, including eight starts at defensive
end... Named third-team Midseason All-Big 12 by Phil Steele... Totaled 26
tackles (16 solo), and tied for second-best total on team with 8.0 tackles
for loss... Also team-high four quarterback hurries, two pass breakups
and forced fumble... 2.5 sacks (-23 yards) ranked fourth on team... Totaled
three tackles and two QB hurries in win over No. 14 TCU in seasonopener...
Had four tackles, 0.5 sack and 1.5 total tackles for loss in win
over Stephen F. Austin in second game... Posted four tackles, including
2.5 tackles for loss, in win over Rice in third game... Forced fumble that
was returned 86 yards for touchdown vs. Iowa State in fifth game... Had
career-best four tackles in three games (Stephen F. Austin, Rice, at
Kansas)... Made three tackles (2 solo), two hurries and broke up pass in
Valero Alamo Bowl win over Washington... Sat out spring drills nursing
an injured leg.
2010 (Sophomore): Played 13 games and started 11 at defensive end as
sophomore... Totaled 21 tackles (13 solo), three tackles-for-loss, one sack,
seven QB hurries, one interception and one fumble recovery... Seven
hurries led team... Made first career start in season-opening win over
Sam Houston State, had two tackles and one hurry... Starter in first seven
contests, came off bench for wins vs. K-State and at Texas, returned to
starting lineup for final three regular-season games... Had two tackles
and hurry in win over Kansas State in eighth game... Made career-high
three tackles in win at Texas in ninth game... Intercepted pass and
returned 21 yards in 12th game vs. No. 16 Oklahoma... Made five tackles,
game-high three tackles-for-loss of 10 yards, including one sack, in Texas
Bowl vs. Illinois.
2009 (Redshirt Freshman): Played in nine games as reserve defensive
end during redshirt freshman season in 2009... Earned first collegiate
letter... Made three tackles, all assisted, and one quarterback hurry on
season... Played all but three games - opener at Wake Forest, sixth game
at Iowa State and eighth game vs. Nebraska, all coach's decisions... Made
college debut in second game vs. UConn, did not register tackle but had
QB hurry... Had season-high two stops vs. No. 14 Oklahoma State in
season's seventh game... Made one tackle at Texas A&M in 11th game.
2008 (True Freshman): Sat out first season at Baylor and participated
on practice squad, redshirted to retain eligibility... Earned team's Baylor
Defensive Bear Squad Award for efforts on scout team.
High School: Waxahachie High School, Waxahachie, Texas... Ranked
as nation's 21st-best weakside defensive end by Rivals.com... No. 45 on
Lone Star Recruiting Texas Top 100 list... 3-star Rivals.com and Scout.com
signee... Ranked No. 43 on Dallas Morning News' Area Top 100 and No. 78
on publication's Texas State Top 100 list... Ranked nation's 30th-best
strongside linebacker by Scout.com... Waco Tribune-Herald and Houston
Chronicle Top 100 member... Rated 54th on Austin American-Statesman's
preseason Fab 55 list... 2007 Texas Top 300 pick by Texas Football
magazine... Earned 2007 second-team Texas Sports Writers Association
Class 4A All-State honors... Co-2007 District 15-4A defensive MVP after
helping Indians to 10-2 record and district title... Had 86 tackles, including
24 for loss, and 14 sacks as senior... Missed sophomore season with torn
ACL, which slowed play as junior... Totaled 21 tackles, including three for
loss and two sacks, as junior... Caught 10 passes for 74 yards and rushed
four times for 28 yards in 2006... Also standout basketball player for
Indians, earned all-region honors as junior after averaging doubledouble...
District Newcomer of Year on hardwood as sophomore...
Captured district long jump crown as junior and went on to finish third at
regionals... Coached by David Ream at District 15-4A school.
Personal: Son of Gary Mason Sr. and Lisa Allen, Gary Lynn Mason Jr.
was born April 18, 1990, in Waxahachie, Texas... Cousin of former
Oklahoma State hoops standout and NBA veteran Desmond Mason...
Majoring in general studies.