Mason Brooks settling in on Ole Miss OL at right tackle

One of the more celebrated – and needed – transfer portal players that arrived for spring training was offensive tackle Mason Brooks, who comes to Ole Miss from Western Kentucky after starting for three years on the Hilltoppers’ offensive line.

The transfer process went like Mason had hoped – landing at a school that a) needed him and b) would increase his value for the next level.

“I knew Ole Miss needed a tackle and playing in the SEC is certainly an opportunity to increase my stock,” he noted.

As you are aware, a team can never have too many tackles, offensive or defensive. In the Southeastern Conference, it all starts in the trenches and at 6-6, 315 pounds, Brooks is just what the doctor ordered to fill the gap left when veteran Guard Ben Brown and Center Orlando Umana graduated.

The plan, in case you’ve been on a survival trip to Mongolia and have missed the news, was some musical chairs on the forward offensive wall.

The first action was to move last year’s right tackle Jeremy James to left tackle. Then move last year’s left tackle Nick Broeker to left guard and last year’s left guard Caleb Warren to center. That would leave the right tackle slot open for Brooks and leave right guard up for grabs. (It appears Eli Acker is nailing that slot down in spring.)

Brooks is happy with the progress he has made thus far this spring.

“So far, it’s been great. I have been at right tackle for a couple of years so it’s not a new spot for me,” Brooks began. “Everything has been good. Everyone is basically playing a new position and Eli is next to me at right guard.

“So far, it’s been pretty seamless. We are all progressing. I think by the end of spring we will be a pretty good unit.”

Mason likes the looks of the offensive linemen beyond the starters as well.

“Micah Pettus, a freshman, is a monster – 6-7, 360. He’s behind me and has a lot of potential. Jayden Williams on the other side is going to be really good OT in time,” Brooks assessed.  “They will be the bookend tackles down the road. Cedric Melton and Cedrick Nicely are also good prospects.

“We are going to need everyone because injuries happen and I believe they will be ready if that happens. And I know they will be good in the years to come.”

Brooks comes from a tempo offense that threw the ball “roughly 80% of the time.” So the tempo at Ole Miss is nothing new to him.

“One reason I chose Ole Miss is because we will run the ball more, but at the same time I can get a lot of pass sets on tape as well as run blocks,” he explained. “The tempo is the way to go though. With Charlie Weis and Coach Kiffin, it was a perfect match for me.

“What I was trying to do was get to the closest level of play to the NFL that is out there and it is certainly the SEC. I can hone my craft here – you play against elite defensive ends every week. Even the non-conference games, you face great talents. I love those kinds of challenges.”

Brooks is having to deal with the Ole Miss defensive ends daily in spring training and he’s impressed.

“Cedric Johnson is really quick off the ball and can really flash,” he stated. “Tavius (Robinson) coming back has made a big difference to that group. “Coach (Randall) Joyner has them playing with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. They are a challenge every day. He challenges them every day and they have responded.

“They have a good rotation going. J.J. Pegues on the inside is really going to help – he’s very explosive off the ball and he can hold down the middle. When you have someone like that, it opens things up for the edge rushers and the linebackers. He and K.D. Hill are very valuable to our DL.”

When asked the difference between coming from a school like Western Kentucky to an SEC program, Brooks smiled and started with, of all things, the food.

“I can get anything I want and as much as I want. My refrigerator is always stocked with fruit and great food and our training table is excellent,” he smiled. “I’ve been like a kid in a candy shop. I’ve put on five pounds since I have been here – I’m 318 now, but I am holding it pretty good.

“The support here is great too, from every angle. Training, equipment, academics – it’s all first class.”

Mason Brooks will be the starting right tackle for the Rebels in the fall, barring anything crazy. He has been touted as being one of the most important new pieces to the hopes and aspirations of the 2022 Ole Miss squad.

From the early indications, he will not disappoint.