Hall of Fame
Damon Mason played the 1993 season for Jones after transferring in from UL.
The Laplace, La., native was named All-MACJC and is noted for having a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown in the Bobcats’ 20-20 tie vs. Navarro College (Texas) in the Texas Shrine Bowl. The Bobcats finished 9-2-1 in head coach Parker Dykes’ second season.
Mason came to Jones after a redshirt season at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now Louisiana-Lafayette) in 1992 and returned to play for UL for the 1994-96 seasons.
He had one of the greatest games in school history on Sept. 14, 1996, when he led the Ragin’ Cajuns to a 29-22 upset of No. 25 Texas A&M. Mason had a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the game and intercepted another pass at the USL 13 with just 31 seconds left to seal the victory.
He also forced two fumbles, had a sack and nine tackles and was named National Defensive Player of the Week.
He had his jersey retired after that season and was named Louisiana’s Defensive Player of the Year, the same year LSU’s Kevin Faulk won offensive honors. He was also named a third-team All-American that year.
Mason had 135 tackles that season, which ranks as the most ever by a Cajun defensive back. He had 21 tackles in a game vs. Houston that season. He also had four interceptions. He ranks fifth in school history with 243 career tackles.
He began his professional career under Jay Gruden with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League in 1997.
Mason played from 1998-2011 and retired as the all-time leading tackler in Arena League history. He played on two league champion teams in 1998 and 2000 and was a three-time All-Arena League selection in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
He was a player/coach in the league for six seasons and was the defensive coordinator for the league champion Jacksonville Sharks in 2017.
Mason was inducted into the Louisiana-Lafayette Hall of Fame in 2018.
He is currently Recruiting Coordinator and Mentor with Diamonds of Distinction (DM9, LLC) and is an ISSA Certified Personal Athletic Trainer.
