With Added Weight And Confidence,UAB’s Mason REady to THRIVE ON DL

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - August 11, 2025

J’Quan Mason’s first on-the-field opportunity to show where he belonged in what has become a position sprinkled with playmakers never got underway. His reaction to missing spring practice with a shoulder problem, however, was part of the reason why the UAB redshirt freshman defensive end is in the middle of a battle for playing time during the Blazers fall camp.

“You know, he could have went into the dumps because he missed spring and didn’t get any contact,” said John Jones, UAB’s special teams coordinator, who also coaches the defensive ends. “All these other guys are getting reps. Even the new freshmen are here getting reps and he didn't drop off mentally. He stayed mentally locked in, got mental reps, which has allowed him to play early in camp and not, you know, be a liability. So I’m really proud of what he's doing as a player.”

It doesn’t take long to see that the Mcadory High graduate, who flipped from Troy to UAB on signing day in 2024, has the physical tools to fit into the mix at UAB.

“Yeah, I mean, I don't want to be too bullish here, but he has the potential to be a uniquely special player,” said UAB head coach Trent Dilfer. “Now, how much he does this year, we'll see. He's got a lot of depth in the position that he's competing at, but, you know, God only gave so many people 6-6, 235 pounds 235 (and) he can run like a wide receiver. You know, so I think he's a special player, and I think Sam Mills is the right coach for him with John Jones, the combination there, because (they) understand the development piece of this. He'll also earn a carved-out role as we go through this one.”

Mason had a long way to go when he stepped on campus last season, mainly because of his frame. He weighed about 195 pounds when he reported to campus. Carrying that weight wasn’t a problem in high school.

“I realized quickly it was different,” Mason said of his adjustment to college football. “On my first pass (rush) I got put down.”

However, Jones looked past that to see the Mason’s potential.

“Well, from my high school (coaching) experience, I think it actually helps me because I don't get totally lost in measurables,” said Jones. “It's all about how do they play and then what can I do to help them do what they can do better instead of asking them to do things they can't do, right? He's a guy that has power, twitch, he can play with leverage. You know, and to be a kid that is light, he shows a lot of power because he understands leverage.”

He also now has added size. Mason was pushed by the staff to add some offseason weight. In high school, Mason said he ate two or three meals a day. These days, he eats five times a day, including a meal before bedtime. Chipotle is his go-to meal, when possible, and he’s been able to maintain his weight in camp.

“Of course I'm heavier but I'm still I'm still fast,” Mason said.

Jones said Mason hasn’t lost a step.

“I kid with him about being fat,” Jones said. “He's not fat at all, just to mess with him. But he's done a really good job of putting it on, maintaining it, and then not hurting his speed, his twitch, his power to keep his legs underneath him. So all that's part of his maturity.”

He’s also ready to play an integral role in the crowded position. The group of players fighting for a spot on the outside includes seniors JaMichael Rogers, Amorie Morrison and James Smyre, redshirt sophomore Ezra Odinjor, redshirt freshman Myles Cook and true freshman Zach Johnson.

“Some guys are more rugged, they're bigger and stronger,” Jones said. “You got some smaller guys that play with twitch and are more sudden, you got guys that can do a little bit of both. We got pass rushers, we got guys that are really good versus run, it's kind of a mixture of all of it. Watching each other play, they're all learning from each other. I may not be as good rushing the passer so I can watch another guy and see what he does really well and that can help my game. Then he can watch me because I'm better in the run game than he is and he can understand how I play with leverage and strike a blocker or take on a pull or whatever. It's not like a bunch of, you know, cookie cutters, same guy. They all are different, which is fun as a coach.”