MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama football wide receiver Parker Mason recently sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss keys for the offense this weekend against Oklahoma State, what he wants to do after football and what other sport he would play collegiately, among other things.

Mason, a senior from Orange Beach, Ala., has been a member of the Jaguar since the 2014.  After redshirting his first season at South and being a member on the roster the next two, Mason saw his first action on the field last season as he was credited with a pair of tackles – both against New Mexico State in the regular-season finale.  He made his collegiate debut in a Jaguar win over Alabama A&M earlier during the season.

You've been a member of the program since 2014 and last season you made your collegiate debut against Alabama A&M.  What was that experience like for you?
"It was a great experience and a dream come true for me.  It's every high school player's dream to be able to go and play in a Division I atmosphere.  It was awesome."

Talk about the role of a scout team player and how they help the program?
"Everybody has their place on a team and my role as a receiver has been one that has been here and there, just because I really didn't play the position in high school.  I was kind of an all-around player who did a lot of different things; I didn't get real good at one thing, but I did a lot of different things well.  That kind of fits on special teams where I have to do a bunch of different things that fit in a bunch of different skill sets, and I've been okay with that role.  It's been a good experience for me to have experienced a lot of different things and to have had to fit into a lot of different other roles."

How have you improved since you arrived at South?
"I feel I've improved tremendously since last season.  Like I said earlier, I had maybe played three snaps in high school at wide receiver.  I've learned so much more at this level from the past coaches and the current ones.  It's been a great experience that I'll be able to take with me for rest of my life, whether it be in technique, discipline or just learning that there are things bigger than football.  I feel I've gotten much better since I arrived here, and I'll be able to share that experience with others."

What do you see as the biggest difference in this year's team and last year's club?
"We've had guys step up not only on the field making plays, but also as leaders.  There are a lot of guys on this team that I respect and say that I would go to war with them.  There are a few more of those guys on the team than there were before, and we are also a lot more tight-knit that we've ever been."

What do you like about playing in offensive coordinator Kenny Edenfield's scheme?
"I just like how well everything is executed; it's all precise and gets the job done.  It's not too flashy, but it's very technical at the same time.  You have to go out there and execute and do exactly what you need to do.  If you do those things, you'll be successful whether it's blocking on a run play or running a good route and catching the ball; it's very intricate."

Are there any similarities in what you did offensively in high school?
"A little bit.  In high school, we ran a lot of option plays.  We kind of run a lot of those same types of plays now.  When I played quarterback in high school, running the option was one of the main things that I was good at so there are definitely some similarities there."

What are a couple of keys for the offense this week against Oklahoma State?
"We just need to execute and move the ball.  Sustaining drives will be key for us.  We also need to execute and score touchdowns in the red zone, not kick field goals.  The biggest thing is going to be for us to keep [Oklahoma State's] offense off the field."

How have you benefited from the offseason conditioning program?
"It's been a really good experience for either players who haven't ever lifted weights before or even those that have lifted before.  It's been exponential in helping all of us reach our goal of becoming bigger, faster and stronger.  I've reached a lot of goals I never thought I would've coming into the weight program, from power-clean to speed, all of those things."

While Mobile is not your hometown, you played prep ball at Gulf Shores High School.  What has it meant to you to be able to continue playing football so close to your home?
"It means the world not only for them, but my friends from high school and my whole community from high school; it's a good community down there.  When you have one of your own step out and make it to the next level, it's great from them to be able to keep in touch, stay around and watch what's going on, because those are the people I play for."

What are you wanting to do after your football career is over?
"The plan is to apply to medical school during the 2019 cycle and take the MCAT in March or April.  I was thinking about doing it last year, but I wanted to focus on finishing my senior year and take it one step at a time.  If everything goes according to plan, I hope to get into med school by 2020."

What area in the medical field are you looking to go into?
"I would love to go into orthopedics.  That's the main area I've been exposed to since I've shadowed them a lot.  Just to continue to be around sports would be an awesome thing since I'm familiar with all the little intricacies.  If I find something else I enjoy more, I'll follow that path, but right now it is definitely orthopedics."

What do you like to do in your spare time?
"I like to play golf and hunt.  It's getting that time of year so I'm ready to get back into the deer stand.  I play golf when I can with my dad and my buddies.  I also watch movies and read books.  That's about it."

Who has had the biggest influence on your life?
"My dad, no doubt about that.  Ever since I was little, just watching the way he handles things.  He had a way of making everything so much simpler than it needed to be.  If there was something that I felt like I couldn't handle at the time, a little conversation with him would flip it all and turn it into something I knew I could handle.  Ever since then that mindset has stuck with me.  No matter what it is, I know I can get through it.  His influence has been paramount for who I am as a person today and I couldn't thank him enough."

What other sports did you play in high school?  
"I played golf for three years and basketball for four years."

If you could play one of those others in college, which one would it be?
"I would be golf, 100 percent."

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