Auburn running back Tre Mason will forego his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. Mason who was one of Auburn’s heroes in their magical run to the national championship game was given a 3rd round grade in his draft evaluation by the NFL.
Mason ran for 1,816 yards breaking Bo Jackson’s school record, while scoring 23 touchdowns. He also had 2,374 all-purpose yards breaking another school record and finished 6th in the Heisman voting.
Mason has nothing left to prove to the NFL. His sophomore season he ran for 1,002 yards in a pro-style offense on a 3-9 team against SEC defense. Against Alabama this season, the SEC’s top rated defense, he ran for 164 yards and one touchdown, averaging 5.7 yards a rush. Then in the SEC championship game against Missouri who had the nations 14th ranked rushing defense, Mason torched them for 304 yards.
In the national title game loss Mason was the best player on the filed for the majority of the game. Against the top rated rush defense in the country Mason ran for 195 yards and a score. He gave the Tigers the lead with an impressive 37 yard run showing speed, power, and quickness.
Auburn fans should not be worried as their backfield is stocked full of talent. Corey Grant and Cameron Artis- Payne, each ran for over 600 yards and 6 touchdowns on the season. Quarterback Nick Marshall ran for over 1,000 always has a chance to make a big play with his speed. The redshirt will be taken off of Peyton Barber and 5 Star running back Racean Thomas will compete for playing time early on.
The Auburn Family will miss Mason but will have plenty of options to fill the void left by him.