Scouting Report: Mason Cole

Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake offensive tackle Mason Cole
(image via TampaBay.com)

Name: Mason Cole
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 275 lbs.
Position: Offensive tackle
High school: Tarpon Springs (FL) East Lake
Class: 2014

Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi State, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, South Carolina, South Florida, Stanford, UCF, USC . . . ESPN Watch List . . . Rivals 4-star OT . . . 247 Sports 4-star OG, 96 grade, #4 OG, #62 overall . . . Teammate of 2014 wide receiver offeree Artavis Scott and 2015 wide receiver offeree George Campbell

Strengths: Athletic enough to play left tackle . . . Shows ability to pull effectively . . . Works combo blocks well . . . Agile enough to double team, then latch onto second level defenders . . . Stays low and shows good knee bend when run blocking . . . Thick lower body that should handle added weight well . . . Intelligent football player who recognizes stunts and defensive alignments and makes line calls . . . Communicates well with linemates

Weaknesses: Telegraphs run vs. pass by stance . . . Needs to be quicker off the ball . . . Inconsistent footwork in pass protection . . . Shows a good kick set at times, but sometimes opens up hips too quickly . . . Needs to be more consistently aggressive in run game . . . Lacks ideal length to play tackle at next level

Projection: Left guard.  Cole is a very good athlete and moves well for a guy his size, but he doesn't have the ideal size and wingspan to remain at tackle on the next level.  He could be a pulling guard in a system like Michigan's, or he's agile enough to play in a zone scheme.  I might even look at him at center if I were running zone, but he's too athletic to waste that agility snapping the ball in a pro-style system.  He doesn't have the frame to ever be a huge road grader on the offensive line, but he will pull well, pass protect well, and be effective when moving to the second level.  He has the makings of a high-level BCS starter.

Reminds me of: Steve Schilling

Here are Cole's highlights on Hudl.