Interview: Bentonville 2016 CB Tyrone Mahone Talks Tigers Football and Recruiting

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The Bentonville Tigers are off to a 6-0 record under first-year head coach Jody Grant. Grant has taken over the Tigers’ program after the retirement of legendary Arkansas high school coach Barry Lunney Sr. Lunney guided the Bentonville program to back-to-back state championships before retiring at the end of the 2014 season.

Picking up the mantle of his predecessor, Coach Grant has continued the team’s winning ways with a group of savvy seniors on offense, like third-year starting quarterback Kasey Ford, and on defense with guys like safety Logan Darby along with Tyrone Mahone.

Mahone, much like Coach Grant, is picking up anew in 2015. Grant was the team’s defensive coordinator the last two seasons while Mahone was on the brink of college recruiting stardom in 2014 before suffering a broken ankle in the Arkansas High School Playoffs, a semifinals contest against North Little Rock. Now both Mahone and Grant are taking a new path together down a similar road looking to establish their positions in the state’s high school football hierarchy.

Mahone vowed to return to the field as good as ever after coming up with 41 tackles, two interceptions and one forced fumble during his junior campaign. The 6’0”, 175 pound, senior looks to have regained much if not all of his 4.3 forty-yard dash speed but the college recruiters are seemingly still timid. Before his injury backyard SEC power Arkansas appeared close to offering with teams like Kansas State, Memphis, Missouri, Nebraska, Navy, and Arkansas State showing interest. He does have one offer from Eastern Illinois with the potential to gain more as the Tigers are on track for another deep playoff run giving Mahone and company a few more games to strut their stuff to Division-I programs.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I caught up with Tyrone before the Tigers’ Friday game against Har-Ber (Springdale) to get an inside perspective on how the season is going for Bentonville, for Mahone, and got a recruiting update in the process.

Interview

Tyrone, first thing first, I’ve seen your early season highlight reel and it looks like you are moving well out there without any noticeable physical limitations. You would know better than anyone, how is your ankle?

“It’s doing good. I still go after practice for treatments but it does not bother me anymore. It doesn’t affect how I play anymore.”

You were playing at a high level before your injury last year, how do you feel about your play on the field so far this season?

“The season as a whole, I feel like I’ve been playing pretty good. If I can keep it up hopefully more schools will start looking at me.”

Which schools are showing interest in you right now?

“I still have the schools that have offered me and UCA (Central Arkansas), A-State (Arkansas State), and Indiana has started showing interest in the last week and so has UMass.”

Do you have any official or unofficial visits coming up?

“I have an unofficial with UCA on the 17th (October), and that is the only one I have scheduled so far.”

Back to your play on the field, what has been your best game so far this season?

“Valor Christian (Highlands Rach, CO), that was the second game of the season.”

What made that your best game in your opinion?

“Seemed like everything that game was going my way. I racked up a bunch of tackles, I had an interception, and I picked up a punt off a bounce and returned it 50 yards.”

I saw that. Did you get in trouble for doing that?

“At first coach was asking “what are you doing?” Once they saw me break it to the outside they started cheering.” (Laughs)

That’s one of those no-no-no moments and then yes-yes-yes.

(Laughs) “Yeah, exactly.”

I know the rivalry game against Fayetteville is Nov. 6 but are there any other games left on the schedule that you are looking forward to playing?

“This week we have a huge game against Har-ber, it’s our homecoming game. They’re a very good team. We’re going to have to play our best against them. We know we will get their best. It’ll be a good game.”

How is everything going in the classroom for you? Do you have a GPA you do not mind sharing?

“My GPA is 2.83.”

Have you taken your ACT yet?

“I’ve taken my ACT and got a 22 but I’m taking it again this month.”

Tyrone, thanks for your time today. Good luck with your homecoming game and we’ll be watching the rest of the way.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: maxpreps.com; No. 4 Tyrone Mahone in action.