Former NFLer ready to dive in as running back
SASKATOON There’s a new running back in town.
At age 24, Tre Mason is yet another former NFLer looking to resurrect his football career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Mason spent two seasons with the NFL’s St. Louis Rams, rushing for 972 yards on 254 carries for five touchdowns. That included 765 yards and four TDs as a rookie.
Mason was a third-round NFL draft pick out of Auburn, where he broke the school’s rushing record previously held by Bo Jackson and was one of six Heisman Trophy finalists in 2013.
Mason was released by the Rams (now based in Los Angeles) prior to the 2017 season after he was arrested for multiple traffic violations and possession of marijuana in 2016.
“I never really wanted to leave the game,” Mason said Wednesday.
“I’m just excited to have the opportunity to play here and make things happen. Today went well. It went like as expected. You grind hard, come out and take advantage of the opportunity.”
The 5-foot-8, 210-pound tailback was activated Wednesday.
“He’s a great back,” said Riders head coach and GM Chris Jones, adding that Mason’s former coach told him Mason is a “high-character guy” who has played some good high-level football.
Mason and Riders rookie Nick Marshall — who can play quarterback/boundary corner — played together at Auburn. That familiarity helped seal the deal for Mason.
“We’ve played together and gone together. It’s like we never left,” said Mason. “A couple of people told me that this organization was interested. I was interested in the opportunity to get back on the field, get the ball in my hands and make things happen.”
Mason will need to adjust to the Canadian game, but he already likes the wider girth of the gridiron.
“You can do more things with the ball,” he said. “I like to use the whole field to make plays. At the end of the day, you’ve just got to play ball.”