Interview: 3-Star 2021 California OL Mason Randolph Looking at Recruiting Visits
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Technically sound, strong (505 squat), nasty, and athletic – Class of 2021 offensive lineman Mason Randolph is a dream for college football coaches and a nightmare for opposing California defenses. The 6-4, 300-pound, Yorba Linda High School standout played his sophomore season at right guard, his junior year at right tackle, and will end his senior season at left tackle. The versatility and drills in footwork and steps at all three positions only adds to the luster of the three-star prospect, and he is a two-sport athlete wrestling for the Mustangs taking third in conference last year. College programs spanning the Big Ten, Mountain West, and Pac-12 have responded to Randolph’s skills on the gridiron with 10 offers extended.
In an RNG first-look, Randolph takes us inside his offseason workouts with an update on his recruiting with a list of possible visits in the coming months.
Interview
Mason, your technique and hours of drills show brightly on your game film as does your love for finishing a block with authority. What motivates you on a Friday night to dominate the opposition the way you do?
“Thank you. My coaches, my two offensive line coaches have meant the world to me. They have done more for me than a lot of people in my life. I could not ask more of them.”
Did you guys track pancakes and/or knockdown blocks?
“Yes, we did. One of the offensive line coaches watched every play, and counted all of them. I believe I ended with 56 pancakes. And another system we do, it is called registered kills, that is when you destroy someone on a block. I finished with 12 to 15 of those.”
What offensive set did Yorba Linda run last season?
“We ran about 70 percent and passed about 30. We are a power team out of the I-formation running a pro-style set.”
Playing right tackle in the Mustangs pro-style set, how did your overall game improve with both your run and pass blocking?
“It improved greatly. I had a rough sophomore season; I was playing at right guard then. Then bouncing out to right tackle was a huge jump in athleticism, but I was able to make that jump. My offensive line coaches, are two of the greatest coaches in the world. My run blocking improved a lot and my feet came in a lot more this season than last. Also, my pad level improved a lot. We focused on that a ton. I did a lot of drills going under the chute.”
Some of the really noticeable attributes to your game are your quick feet, sliding off from one block to the next, and how you keep your hands inside. What do you feel are some of the other strengths to your game?
“I believe I am athletic enough to pull, I love pulling, and I love working in space. It might not show because we don’t pass a lot, but I worked on that part of my game a ton. Pass blocking, that is a strength to my game. I can 100 percent pass-pro.”
Are you taking on any new roles with the Mustangs in 2020?
“Yes, this season I will be playing left tackle. I am not sure what our defense is looking like this season because we did not have spring practices, but I might get some reps in at defensive tackle.”
Throughout the offseason, what have you been working on with your game as an offensive lineman?
“My pass-pro, and switching over to the left is a big change. I am 100 percent up to it. I’ve been working on my footwork and steps this offseason.”
What has been your workout routine this spring during the quarantine?
“One of my buddies is an offensive lineman at San Diego State, he’s got a lifting program that we do. It is a squat every day program with a ton of core exercises. The core ties everything together.”
Access to gyms have been limited, but have you been able to max out this spring or before the quarantine?
“We haven’t power cleaned, but we have been benching and squatting. I have the third all-time record for squat at our school, 505 pounds. Two guys on the team now are ahead of me at 575 and 580. My bench max is about 350.”
Being a three-star recruit has brought a lot of college attention your way. Which programs are showing interest but have yet to offer you?
“I was just hit up by Kansas and Oregon State.”
How many offers are you holding?
“I have 10 offers.”
Which programs were the last couple to offer you?
“UNLV, they are the most recent, Arizona, and Arizona State.”
Randolph’s Offer Sheet: Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, Colorado, Michigan State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah, and Utah State
Are there any visits you may take, official or unofficial, in the coming weeks or months?
“For sure. I am definitely going to Arizona State, Michigan State, U-of-A (Arizona), and Boise State. Those are all unofficial visits as of right now.”
Mason, thanks for your time today and good luck with the rest of your workouts this summer.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Randolph family; Mason Randolph