Evans offensive lineman, Mason Short, was blessed with the ability to play football at a high level, but it took hard work to get him ready for big-time college football.
“I started playing football when I was about five years old,” said Short. “My older brother who played here at Evans was always in the yard with me, trying to toughen me up. He’s been my rock.”
In middle school, Short was trying to find his path to play, and tight end was his position, but when he got to high school, things changed.
“When I got here my freshman year, it was rough at first, but once I met coach (Alan) Troutman and mingled with the guys, I knew this is what I wanted to do,” said the Evans’ senior.
As his confidence in high school football continued to grow, so too did his frame.
As you can see by his 6-foot-5 ½, 305-pound frame, and his status as a 4-star prospect, the switch to offensive line was a pretty good one. After that decision, almost every major college football program in the country came calling, and the recruiting buzz around Evans High School has never been louder.
The recruiting process for guys like Short can be fun. They get to go to the most prestigious college campuses and live like a player on the roster for a weekend, not to mention, meeting the players and all of the coaches.
Call it a testament to Short’s character, though, that even in his own personal recruiting journey, he found himself thinking about his teammates.
“I can only describe it as a blessing, not only for me, but for our community,” Short said. “Since 2022, we’ve had 70 colleges from Division I to junior colleges, to see our guys play, which has been great for my teammates,” he said.
The four-star offensive lineman made his college decision on April 5 to go play for Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs, which means now he’s focused on his Senior season with his guys.
The Knights are as gifted as they’ve been in Short’s career with top-tier talent at every position. Every player has goals, but within those individual goals are also team goals. Short’s goals for the 2024 season transcend are bigger than his own success.
“I want our running backs to have a great year,” Short said. “We strive for 300 rushing yards per game. If we get that, we get Chick-fil-A the next morning.” That’s something we can build on every game, and it should end up with us having a great season. Personally, I want to improve my footwork.”
The Knights had a good year on the ground a season ago, rushing for a grand total 2,180 yards – just a shade under 200 per game – while averaging a cumulative 5.2 yards per carry.
They were led by then-senior Rayshaun King and his 1,173 yards and 10 touchdowns with EJ Hogan complimenting him with 487 rushing yards and three scores. But they want to go above and beyond that in the upcoming season with aspirations of becoming a more well-rounded offense.
Hogan coming back at quarterback and the addition of Aquinas transfer Buddyrow Garrer should help that. And a better offense means a better Evans squad for Short’s final season.
His entire family went to school at Evans, and there is pride in being a Knight. As he reflected on the highlights of donning the black and gold, Short says he feels he still has a lot left to accomplish before his time is done at Evans is done.
“My favorite part about being a Knight is my guys,” he said. “The late nights, the early mornings, practices with my teammates. Some of my best times have been in that weight room. If it wasn’t for them none of this stuff going on would be fun,” said the Knights’ Senior Leader.
Evans head coach Barrett Davis has been able to coach Short for all these years and has loved it.
“It’s been a special privilege to see this guy over four years, because not only is he a great kid, he’s an extra large specimen on top of it,” said Davis.
In today’s high school football complete with “transfer-portal-style” player movement and even Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities tricking down to the high school level, a lot of top recruits leave their hometowns for other schools and get bought out. But not in this case.
Davis has always known Short was different.
“We haven’t had to deal with any of that here,” Davis said. “He’s locked in here. He’s not a kid who is chasing that stuff. He will have NIL opportunities and other things when he gets to UGA, but that just comes with the territory. But we haven’t had a problem with it here.”
