YSUsports.com - Marcus Mason Named Gateway Newcomer of the Year

Nov. 29, 2005
Football: Marcus Mason Named Gateway Newcomer of the Year
    St. Louis, Mo. – Junior tailback Marcus Mason (Potomac, Md.) was named the 2005 Gateway Football Conference's Newcomer of the Year, the league announced on Wednesday.
    Mason, a 5-9, 197-pound transfer from Illinois, joined the YSU program just before the start of camp in the fall and after overcoming an early ankle injury was able to make an immediate impact helping lead Youngstown State to its first Gateway title since joining the conference in 1997.
    A second-team All-Gateway pick, Mason played in nine games and averaged 99.1 yards per contest, which included a 115.7 per game average during seven Gateway Conference games -- all starts. He tied for the conference lead with eight rushing touchdowns during conference play. Mason's selection marked the fourth consecutive year that the Newcomer of the Year has been a running back.
    Mason was also named to the All-Newcomer team along with junior cornerback Codera Jackson (Rochester, N.Y.) and freshman defensive tackle Mychal Savage (Hartsdale, N.Y.). Jackson was named first-team All-Gateway on Tuesday after recording a conference-best six interceptions. Savage started seven games on the defensive front helping the Penguins lead the Gateway in scoring defense.
    Illinois State defensive back Tom Nelson was named the 2005 Gateway Freshman of the Year.

CB Codera Jackson, 5-10, 170, Jr., Rochester, N.Y.
First-Team All-Gateway selection as a defensive back...credited with 642 plays by the coaching staff, second most on the unit…leads the conference with six interceptions…ranks seventh in Division I-AA in interceptions per game…returned an interception 72 yards for a touchdown against Liberty…intercepted a pass in his first four Gateway games…had four pass breakups…had a season-high 11 tackles against Illinois State, including seven solo stops…had an interception and a forced fumble against the Redbirds…had six tackles against Western Illinois and Western Kentucky…finished with 50 tackles, including 32 solo stops…joined the team in fall camp and started all 11 games…interception against WIU set up game-winning touchdown drive at the 30-yard line.

TB Marcus Mason, 5-9, 197, Jr., Potomac, Md.
Second-team All-Gateway pick as a tailback...started all seven Gateway games for the Penguins…in those contests averaged 115.7 yards per game, the second most in the conference…scored eight rushing touchdowns in league play to tie for the Gateway lead…finished with 810 yards on 156 carries in Gateway action…averaged 5.2 yards per carry…had four 100-yard games in Gateway play…rushed for a season-high 203 yards on 32 carries against Missouri State…returned four kickoffs for 114 yards, including returns of 44 (WKU) and 39 (Illinois State)…on the year had 892 yards rushing in nine games…averaged 99.1 yards per contest…transferred before the season from Illinois.

DT Mychal Savage, 6-2, 310, Fr., Hartsdale, N.Y.
Credited with 327 plays by the coaching staff…played in 10 games making seven starts…had three quarterback pressures…credited with 27 tackles by the coaching staff…YSU led the league in scoring defense...joined the program in January after a semester at Hargrave Academy.