It didn't take long for the decision to be made.
"I've always said that if I was going to have better scholarship offers from football then I was going to take it," said tight end Zaccheus Mason, who is scheduled to take his official visit to Tennessee this weekend.
It's not as if Mason, who likes to be called Z, didn't have options had he stuck to basketball instead of football.
The talented athlete from Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville had more than 30 scholarship offers from schools smaller than he'd prefer to attend. Western Kentucky topped the list.
Football, however, affords Mason the opportunity to play at a higher level. He's considering scholarship offers from UT and Ole Miss after playing tight end for the first time this past season.
"He is a 6-5, 250-pound 17-year-old that has incredible speed and hands for his body type," Christian Presbyterian coach Jay Matthews said. "He has a prototype body for a tight end."
In fact, Mason is so athletic that he played quarterback in Matthews' version of the "Wildcat" package, a zone read offense that has recently gained fame in college and the NFL.
"This year, the football light really came on," Matthews said. "During his senior year, it appeared his best opportunities would be in football."
College coaches confirmed as much. One of the first was former UT coach Phillip Fulmer, who extended Mason an offer midway through his senior season.
Then came the coaching change. Eventually, another coach at UT was equally impressed with Mason.
"I know he was real excited when Coach (Lane) Kiffin came at watched him at a basketball game," Matthews said. "He wasn't sure what was going to happen in the transition."
Excited about Kiffin, yes. But Mason admits he's still a bit unsure about the Vols and probably a bit more comfortable with Ole Miss.
"I don't know much about UT because they had the coaching change," said Mason, who is being recruited by assistant coach James Cregg.
UT, however, has proximity on its side and the lure that comes with playing for an in-state school.
"I guess it's a big factor for my family to be able to come see me play and it not be a big issue," Mason said.
The former Mr. Basketball finalist is still playing basketball but isn't harboring any dreams of playing two sports in college. Once his high school season is complete, he'll be a tight end not a forward.
Before then, Mason will have to make a difficult decision, one that he never dreamed he'd be making just six months ago, especially since he just played football for three seasons - at defensive end before 2008.
It's a lot to digest in a very short amount of time.
"Coaches are showing a lot of interest in me," he said. "I'm getting kind of nervous because I've got a lot of decision making to come soon."
The Recruiting Lane: Like his predecessor, Kiffin will tour the state a day after National Signing Day. Kiffin will speak to fans in Knoxville over breakfast, Nashville over lunch and Memphis for dinner on Feb. 5.
Fans can RSVP at utsports.com for any of the three events. The Knoxville event will be held at the Knoxville Convention Center. Tickets are $25.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 65
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Coach 'em up. C'mon son and congrats.
straightshooter writes:
Good size, speed and hands. That's what it takes to be a great tight end. We have prospects but no proven tight end at this point. Welcome aboard!
bobbytodd writes:
We need a tight end. Haven't had one catch a ball in years but this offense should get the ball their direction. Sign the dang paper!
BolivarBob writes:
I'm hearing some maturity in this youg man.....talking honestly about his feelings. Mr. Basketball? Sign him up for both sports, get him a mentor/tudor and take him to class in a limousine.
grvol writes:
Stay in state!
yeavols#228407 writes:
Wait! background check..we need your "star" ratings please..everyone knows you need 5 stars to be good. (cough)
Down_The_Field writes:
Gents, you see a tight end......I see a DE!
Down_The_Field writes:
Funny....your speaking my language. You how many stars Jay Cutler had? Someone on hear may know, but I don't think he had enough to be projected a starter at Appy State. Now look at him.
txsvol#372416 writes:
Zaccheus was a wee little man, And a wee little man was he. And he climbed up in a sycamore tree, For the Lord he wanted to see! (Luke 19:1-10). This hulk must have been named after another Zaccheus! Get 'em, Lane! SAVol
sameolvolalum writes:
Who?
invisiblekid writes:
Antonio Gates used to play basketball as well, he turned out OK after the switch to football. I'd like to see Mason give it a shot to follow in his footsteps as a Vol. After all, we already have a coach with experience coaching NFL tight ends in Jim Cheney.
Navalorange writes:
"He is a 6-5, 250-pound 17-year-old that has incredible speed and hands for his body type,"
Zounds good to me, Play in Tennessee Z!
blitzshoot writes:
I don't think you'll see this guy wake up and say
"that skool waz da fust skool id dot of"
blitzshoot writes:
z, I heard on the radio they have 2 for 1 on the prune juice down at the mart, go check it out.
wagee12 writes:
Does anyone see any of those guys who were dissing the visitors and saying they had never heard of them. Are any of the posters now on here singing the praises of Z-Man. This kid is a much better prospect than the tight end who re-committed to Auburn. If he needs to red-shirt a year, so what, we've got big Aaron Douglas coming off a red-shirt season and some seem to think he might be the next Jason Whitten.
Mason has the kind of tools that will land him in the National Football League when his college days are over!
MikeInTN writes:
Comes from a very good program in Nashville!
marinevol writes:
Looks like the big schools haven't given this guy much attention yet.
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/...
givehim6 writes:
The next Jason Witten?
TommyJack writes:
Ignore the interlopers.
ZWVol11 writes:
I haven't seen this kid in about 2 years but when he was a Sophomore he already had a body that looked like it was stone. This kid could be a difference maker because he does have great footwork and he's just a house of a kid. But, I worry about him taking hits playing Class AA football in TN is a little different than the SEC East
murrayvol writes:
I'm trying to imagine an offense with a talented and athletic tight end who actually participates. It's been awhile.
murrayvol writes:
I think Brandon Warren proved himself at FSU. I don't know what the hell happened after his arrival in Knoxville.
murrayvol writes:
I see a redshirt.
beachvol1 writes:
Z....Think about all the NFL ties on this coaching staff and that is obviously where you could possibily have a good chance to play....who knows, with this staff, either side of the ball can be your ticket....think about it, only 3 hrs from the house and you can bring down the house...might want to confer with coach Pearl...always in need of a big athletic power forward/center....
senracjr writes:
Dude thats a basketball link
senracjr writes:
why did you put a link on here for toilet paper?
senracjr writes:
Ole Miss,Georgia,Memphis and Tennessee are on his list.
http://tennessee.rivals.com/quicklist...
pdhuff#552644 writes:
The dreaded infallible charts happened.
How soon we forget.
gnm53108 writes:
Ignore who?
volzcrushm writes:
maybe clk should try to get jason witten to recruit the Z ?
FullofMonte writes:
One of the strongest positions on the Vols is TE. Granted under Clawson we didn't see them in action. But these guys are no slotches:
1 Brandon Warren 6'2" 220 Alcoa, TN JR
80 Jeff Cottam 6'8" 260 Germantown, TN SR
88 Luke Stocker 6'6" 235 Berea, KY JR
89 Aaron Douglas 6'6" 245 Maryville, TN RSFR
TNfaninMS writes:
what happened in nashville today? Wasn't there a coaches meeting there or something? Or am i mistaken. If there was, i want to hear about what happened there.
whybenegative writes:
the meeting in nashville is the national football coaches association meetings
utmdm writes:
Remove Warren from the charts. Free Warren!
BigOrangeVol writes:
Other than Hooker, who's obviously clueless, doesn't anyone know that CPA is Christ Presbyterian Academy and NOT Christian Presbyterian Academy?
How difficult is it to get a freakin' proofreader at KNS or at least someone who knows something about sports? That's just embarrassing!!!
Glad he doesn't go to Austin-West, North-Doyle or Hardisson Valley. Good Grief!
rockytopspottedbirgdog writes:
If we cant get a nonrated player fron in-state it doesnt look so good for coachs recruiting.
cobbwebb writes:
i want to go to the ut recruiting breakfast in knoxville on feb. 5th, and i want to take the witch doctor with me! how great would it be to be at a table with the witch doctor, and ed orgeron!
marinevol writes:
footballrecruiting.rivals.com is a basketball link?? They list him as a tight end, how many basketball teams use a tight end?? WHAT AN IDIOT, DUDE!!
voldog8 writes:
I watched this kid in a few games. He is man child in the weak league he plays in. He takes a lot of plays off and when he gets hit hard he backs down. So, if he picks Ole Miss, no big deal.
senracjr writes:
if you read under his picture it says BASKETBALL...
Thats all the schools recruiting him for BASKETBALL!!Doofus
aviator1 writes:
Yeah the whole world knows that UF are national champs...now would you please disappear. Find you own site, troll. Prediction: if TT is drafted as a QB in the NFL he will end up like ALL other UF QB's in the NFL......benchriders in about a season if not less.
aviator1 writes:
AWESOME!!
hgjmoore#258236 writes:
In Nashville it seems that TN's coaches are focused on filling the vacancies before end of the week - finding a good minority coach or two would do wonders for perception. While the interviewing is happening, the rest of coaches appear to be moving toward alignment on an early signing period.
douglasawilliams#582863 writes:
I'm hoping Warren will get to a play maker next year. 10 catches is not exactly what most VOL fans were hoping for. This is what I envision 8-5 next season ranked 25 AP, 10-3 in 2010 ranked 7 AP, 12-1 IN 2011 winner of BCS NC. Now is that too much to ask for?
marinevol writes:
Actually, that's a lie. The article on "footballrecruiting.rivals.com" says that ASU is recruiting this tight end for basketball. In your little mind, I guess that transforms the football recruiting site into a basketball site, right sparky?
marinevol writes:
Hey volster. I'm O.D. tonight, and just getting ready to make my rounds. I'll have to leave you in charge here for the rest of the night. Got to go.
VOLINCALI writes:
How 'bout the Z-Berry offense. This kid sounds a lot like Tea Bag. And Witten
lburgvol writes:
I hear that DT Wes Brown knee surgury was sucessful and he is back to play this year. I have heard both good and bad on this boy. what do you guys think ??
BillsBrother writes:
OOO RAH, back at ya!
gnm53108 writes:
Hope your watch goes quick.
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