Mason McCormick, IOL, South Dakota State
Size:
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 309 pounds
Arm Length: 33 7/8’’
Hand Size: 10”
Accomplishments:
FCS All-America First Team (2022) • First Team All-MVC (2022) • Second Team All-MVC (2021, 2020)
“One of the best finishers in the class, Mason McCormick is entertainment at its finest but must develop and grow before he sees legitimate NFL action.”
Strengths:
Mean streak; incredible finisher
When used as a pulling guard he’s a weapon
Covers up well at the second level
Concerns:
Waist-bender—struggles to generate legitimate displacement at the line of scrimmage
Inconsistent footwork in pass and run
Plays out of frame and doesn’t use definitive strikes in pass protection
Film Analysis:
Mason McCormick is about as entertaining an evaluation as they come. Within every game I watched, there were unbelievably impressive plays where McCormick would absolutely punish defenders. To be quite frank, he plays like an asshole; I love it. But once you get past the flashes and finishes, trying to project McCormick at the next level becomes challenging.
As a pass protector, McCormick struggles to show consistency. He displays some lumbering footwork, which is especially evident when passing on stunts, and he leaves me wanting more from his hands and strikes. Generally, in both phases of the game, I’d like to see him bend more at the knees rather than his waist. With his natural power and grip strength, repurposing his leverage could see great returns in his production and consistency on a play-to-play basis.
On the bright side, McCormick has some special athletic ability. While carrying a big frame, his NFL Combine numbers show a strong foundation of tools. On film, these tools blossom when McCormick is asked to pull and lead-block for runs as well as work to the second level. He’s not scared of contact and he stays incredibly composed at the point of attack. These attributes are incredibly reassuring; there is something here to work with.
The finishing ability is off the charts. As I stated earlier, he may be the best in the class at putting people in the dirt. The meanness, athletic profile, and football character that McCormick possesses tell a story in and of itself, but the inconsistencies somewhat tell another.
So where does that leave the SDSU product and two-time National Champion? I know there’s a path to success for him. He’s not a finished product by any means, but an organization that trusts its process to develop should take a look. I’m excited to see McCormick in an NFL offense where he can really show off his skillset in a variety of ways. Guys like him come around sparingly these days, and taking a chance on him could reap positive rewards in the right environment.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Scheme Specific Contributor
Exposures: Montana (2023), Montana State (2023), South Dakota (2023), North Dakota State (2023)
