Penn Hills’ Mason ready to play at Robert Morris

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, February 3, 2018 | 1:48 AM

With national signing day fast approaching, local WPIAL football players started to announce their college commitments.

Penn Hills tight end and linebacker Darrell Mason made his college choice known Jan. 28 when he announced via Twitter that he verbally committed to play linebacker at Robert Morris.

Mason, a first-team all-conference selection during his senior season, also was mulling offers from IUP and St. Francis (Pa.).

“It just seemed like it fit. It's a nice campus. The team was real close together,” Mason said. “The coaching staff was real cool. I felt accepted, and it was a real good fit.”

Mason, who is 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, received offers from Slippery Rock, West Virginia Wesleyan, Seton Hill and West Virginia State.

“It's a relief. It was a tough choice because I liked all the schools. My family will be able to come see me play,” Mason said.

Heading into his senior season, Mason wasn't getting many offers — only one, in fact, from West Virginia State.

However, after being one of the leaders on a Penn Hills (8-4, 3-3) football team that made its deepest playoff run since 2008, colleges started to take notice.

Penn Hills, led by first-year coach Jon LeDonne, reached the WPIAL Class 6A semifinals and lost 17-8 to Central Catholic.

LeDonne was a four-year starter at outside linebacker for Robert Morris from 2001-04.

Mason, who describes himself as a hard hitter and good tackler, announced his only Division I offer from Robert Morris on Nov. 8.

“I remained humble and continued to work hard,” Mason said. “I knew my time would come.”

Mason is the second Indian this season to commit to a Division I school: Wide receiver Julian Major signed with Michigan State.

Major signed on with the Spartans during the first-ever early signing period Dec. 20.

The Indians' junior class has multiple players with Division I offers. Toledo has offered scholarships to wide receiver/cornerback's Dante Cephas and Daequan Hardy.

Howard has offered Cephas and quarterback Hollis Mathis.

Andrew John is a freelance writer.

Tags: Penn Hills