The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Concussion problem is McMahon’s passion
Case Western linebacker, Mentor graduate wants to help solve issue in football
Case Western linebacker, Mentor graduate wants to help solve issue in football.
Justin McMahon has never had a concussion.
One of his close friends from Mentor High School wasn’t as fortunate. He battled them, and it forced him to stop playing football by his junior year of high school.
McMahon, a standout senior linebacker for 8-0 and No. 16 Case Western Reserve, has played his entire football career without experiencing the brain injury that’s a hot topic at all levels of football.
He’s passionate about trying to help prevent them after graduation in May 2018.
“I’m just one small person in this giant world,” said McMahon Nov. 2 after a morning practice at Case’s DiSanto Field. “It’s about how can I help out that next person. I’ve always had the bigger picture idea of helping people.
“I’m not really sure what I’m going to do, or where I’ll be (after graduation), but I want to go somewhere where I’m impacting and helping people in multiple ways. Serving people is where I think I can make an impact.”
McMahon is a biomechanical engineering major. He carries a 3.0 grade-point average and is one of Case’s top defensive players. He’s also active member of the Cru Ministry. Last summer, he spent six weeks in Croatia helping spread the word about his faith.
In seven months, McMahon will graduate. The next two weeks are arguably the biggest of his football career.
The undefeated Spartans have hopes of finishing off a perfect 10-0 regular season, and then possibly getting into the NCAA Division III playoffs. In their way the next two games are 6-2 Westminster (Pa.) and 7-2 Carnegie Mellon.
It’s a tough task, but McMahon said he and his teammates are looking forward to the challenge the same way he is about tr y ing to help solve football’s concussion problem.
“It ’s an area people don’t know a lot about,” said McMahon, himself included.
So he went out and did his best to educate himself. Luckily for McMahon, he’s at the right place.
Upon a referral from a fellow classmate, McMahon applied, interviewed and was accepted into a Case Western Reserve research lab headed by Jeffrey Capadona, Ph.D.
The lab specializes in neural electrode implants to stimulate the brain with the hope of assisting individuals paralyzed or without function of their extremities.
McMahon’s upcoming biomechanical engineering degree should allow him a plethora of opportunities to pursue his passion. While the research that’s ongoing in the lab doesn’t directly corollate to concussions, he knows it’s a step in the right direction to understanding the brain.
“Part of it is technology — how can we best prevent (concussions)? How can we best treat it?” said McMahon. “It’s also about how we best teach tackling, and taking the head out of it. Those are two things I’m passionate about.”
If all of that seems complicated, imagine how his coach at Case feels. Longtime Spartans coach Greg Debeljak has been there, felt that with many of his players. McMahon’s case and drive — on and off the field — is no different.
“What Justin is doing is so above what I would have considered at his age,” said Debeljak. “But that’s the type of kids that we attract at Case. They’re the best of
the best. Nothing he does surprises me.”
It’s also one of the reason for McMahon’s success on the football field.
Debeljak admits McMahon is not tremendously physically g if ted. T he 6-foot, 200-pound linebacker runs about a 5.2 seconds in the 40, but he’s still one of the quickest defenders on the team, said Debeljak.
“I point to Justin for our younger guys,” said Debeljak. “This is how you prepare. In all phases, film study, weight room, in the classroom, managing your time. It’s his preparation that stands out.
“He might not be the fastest, but he’s one of the quickest. He knows where to go, and he makes up for (his lack of speed) by being in the right spot.”
An example was two weeks ago when McMahon was in the right place at the right time. He scored the first touchdown of his career on a 68-yard scoop and score off a fumble in Case’s 45-7 win over Geneva.
In that game, he made a season-high 10 stops. For the season, he leads Case with 47 tackles.
McMahon’s playing career might be coming to an end, but he’s intent on being involved. He’s hoping the growing concern of parents deciding whether their sons or daughters play football over fear of brain injuries doesn’t derail the sport.
“I’ve loved this game so much and for so long,” said McMahon. “I want to keep having an impact on kids coming up who are playing football. I also want young kids to have the experiences I had growing up.”
Included is the experience he’s having this season as part of an undefeated team.
“We want to do something special,” said McMahon. “We’re on t he cusp of it, and now’s the time to take it. I’m really excited for these next two games.”