Wisconsin Football senior tight end Lance Mason has made a profound difference through his playmaking ability since transferring to Wisconsin from Missouri State University.
Mason entered the transfer portal with a shining resume, leading all FCS tight ends with 56 catches for 800 yards and eight touchdowns, six of which were scored during the past season. The Wisconsin tight end room was in critical search for an answer after Tanner Koziol’s departure and starter Tucker Ashcraft’s injury.
What Mason and his ambition offer is far more than just a quick solution to fill the void the Badgers were left with.
In a media availability last month, head coach Luke Fickell highlighted Mason’s performance as a manifestation of his ambitions.
“So far, he’s done a great job,” Fickell said. “He's shown us some things that maybe you didn't even see on film because he wasn't asked to do them…with physicality and things like that. I think he's in a really good place.”
Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes echoed that sentiment, noting the complexity of the tight end position in his scheme and Mason’s ability to master it quickly.
As the 2025 season unfolds, Mason is proving himself as a versatile blocker and pass-catcher. In Week 2 against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, he led the Badgers with seven receptions for 102 yards, including a 34-yard grab that set up a touchdown. He then finished the night off with a touchdown of his own. His speed, size and physicality left the Blue Raiders’ defense scrambling, showcasing the importance of his athleticism under the demands of the tight end position.
Wisconsin was undone by the Crimson Tide’s dominant passing attack between quarterback Ty Simpson and wideout Ryan Williams and endured a brutal 38-14 loss against Alabama in Week 3. Alabama’s efficiency through the air exposed cracks up front, as the Badgers’ offensive line faltered and left little room for the rest of the offense to make an impact.
Mason’s talents were put to the test on the big SEC stage. He hauled in two receptions for 30 yards, including a 19-yard grab that stood out as one of Wisconsin’s few bright offensive moments in Tuscaloosa. Beyond the box score, his presence drew coverage and forced Alabama’s secondary to account for him on every snap, while his blocking contributions gave Wisconsin’s quarterbacks precious extra seconds against one of the nation’s most disruptive defenses.
Though the afternoon underscored the program’s growing pains against elite competition, how Mason managed to compete on that stage reinforced his value as a difference-maker moving forward.
Mason rode the momentum into Saturday’s contest against the Maryland Terrapins. Despite a lackluster day for the offense as a whole, Mason was once again a lone bright spot, hauling in five receptions for 45 yards and the team’s only touchdown — a 13 yard in-breaking route in the game’s final minute.
As Big Ten conference play continues, Mason’s presence gives Wisconsin an offensive identity that stretches beyond its traditional approach. His size and versatility create mismatches, his consistency builds confidence for the quarterbacks and his ambition fuels a group that needed an emerging leader at the position.
What Mason presents Wisconsin goes far beyond being a quick fix for the depth chart. He has become the stabilizing force for a group previously plagued with uncertainties.
Behind Mason, Grant Stec and JT Seagreaves, two young tight ends, have the blueprint to develop into consistent contributors. Redshirt sophomore Jackson McGohan brings receiving upside, while senior Jackson Acker, a former running back, adds strength and versatility in H-back and blocking roles. Together, they aid Grimes’ flexibility in his tight end packages.
Mason’s emergence not only steadies Wisconsin’s offense in the present but also reshapes its future outlook. In a season defined by transitions, Mason has provided a solid foundation to build upon and a playmaker capable of shifting games in their favor.
