Tracking the Preaux Career of UL's Damon Mason

[Pirogue]

He's still helps out...
Destrehan’s Smith commits to Cajuns
Defensive back gave Tulane verbal pledge last year.
Eric Narcisse
enarcisse@theadvertiser.com

December 5, 2003

LAFAYETTE — During his senior season at Destrehan, Jamarcus Smith came to the conclusion that Tulane University was where he wanted to continue his football career.

But after stuggling to meet the requirements on the ACT for admission into Tulane, Smith sat out the fall semester and has since decided to play for Rickey Bustle and the UL Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns.

“I didn’t really want to sit out this past semester,” Smith said. “But I was becoming frustrated with myself and that test. But it all has worked out for the best.”

Once the 5-10 170-pound cornerback decided that he wasn’t going to play for the Green Wave, Smith chose the Ragin’ Cajuns over Southern Mississippi and Northwestern State.

“I talked to coach (Damon) Mason and he was telling me that UL would be a good fit for me,” Smith said. “So I went visit and he was right. I loved everything about the university, especially the coaching staff. I really came away from my visits feeling like this was a great fit for me.”

According to Smith, the best thing about the Ragin’ Cajuns’ coaching staff was thier “honesty”.

“During my visits the coaching staff was straight forward with me,” Smith said. “They told me that I would have an opportunity to get some playing time next year, being that they were losing a couple of seniors in the secondary.”

Most importantly for Smith, he’s happy to know that he’ll be in college in January.

“I’m extremely excited about this opportunity,” Smith said. “I really wish that I could have attended UL Lafayette this past fall. I can’t wait until the spring.”

[NewsCopy]

Raging through the Pages of the Web

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Carolina wide receiver Damon Mason graduated from Destrehan High School and played at Louisiana Lafayette from 1994-96. He was the Ragin' Cajuns' leading tackler two years and was selected All-Independent during his senior year. Mason ranks second in the AFL with 48 tackles and third in league history with 549. Mason also works as an assistant football coach at Destrehan. . . . Cobras lineman Bryan Ray was in the Saints 2001 training camp, and Nate Bell attended Southern.

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[Louisiana]

April 14, 2004 - CHARLOTTE – The Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League announced today that the club has released veteran defensive specialist Damon Mason. The Cobras, who have dropped three straight games, are expected to make several personnel moves in an effort to snap out of their recent struggles and rekindle their playoff hopes.

Mason (5-9, 195) currently ranks second in the league with a team-high 60.0 tackles to go along with two interceptions and three passes defended. However, he was a focal point of a Cobras defensive backfield that had surrendered at least six touchdowns per game in six of the last seven contests. This season, Carolina has surrendered 52 touchdown passes (18th in the 19-team league) and has allowed a league-high 54.4 points per game.


A six-year AFL veteran, Mason currently ranks third in AFL history with 561.0 total tackles and has been named to the All-Arena team three times (2000, 2001, 2002). Mason also was a key contributor on two ArenaBowl title teams with the Orlando Predators in 1998 and 2000. Last season, he saw action in all 16 games with the Las Vegas Gladiators, leading the team with 67.5 tackles.

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[Louisiana]

April 14, 2004 - Orlando, Fla. (April 14) -- Damon Mason, one of the most ferocious hitters and popular players in Orlando Predators franchise history, has re-joined the team after a three-year absence. Mason, who started the 2004 season with the Carolina Cobras, was released by the team on Tuesday. He inked a two-year deal with the Predators on Wednesday.
“Of all the free agents we have lost since I have been here, losing Damon Mason was the one that was the hardest for both me and our franchise,” Predators Head Coach Jay Gruden said. “Damon is one of the toughest defensive specialists to ever play this game and I am convinced he can come in here and give us a spark.”

Mason ranked second in the league with a team-high 60.0 tackles at the time of his release by Carolina. He had two interceptions and three passes defended. A six-year AFL veteran, Mason currently ranks third in AFL history with 561.0 total tackles and has been named to the All-Arena team three times (2000, 2001, 2002).

Mason also was a key contributor on two ArenaBowl title teams with the Orlando Predators in 1998 and 2000. During his time with the Predators, he compiled 383.5 tackles with 55 pass defenses and 13 interceptions. He posted three consecutive years of 100 or more tackles and also had eight tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. In addition, his Predators post-season stats include 55 tackles, seven pass defenses and four interceptions in 10 games. One of those interceptions was returned for a touchdown against Tampa Bay in ArenaBowl XII.

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[NewsCopy]

NEW YORK - Orlando Predators defensive specialist Damon Mason has been named ADT Defensive Player of the Week for Week 1 of the 2005 Arena Football League season.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Mason, who is in his eighth season after a stellar career with Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns, helped lead the Predators to a 39-36 victory over the Colorado Crush (0-1) in an interconference showdown on Sunday.

Mason recorded 11 tackles and an interception in the season-opening victory. This marks the first time that the former All-Arena performer has earned an AFL weekly honor.

On Thursday, Mason and the Predators face the Arizona Rattlers (1-0) at America West Arena in Phoenix at 8 p.m. Central.

ADT Defensive Player of the Week candidates included: Arizona's Wendall Gaines, Dallas' Hamin Milligan, Georgia's Dialleo Burks, Los Angeles' Antuan Simmons, Nashville's Jarrick Hillery, Philadelphia's Arkee Thompson and Tampa Bay's Tramain Jones.

The source of the story

[J-Town Cajun]

I just flipped to Fox Sport SW and saw that former DB @ UL Damon Mason is still playing in the Arena League. I got on their internet site to check on his stats. And to no surprise he is leading the team in tackles. His bio states that he is in the top 5 in a few different career catagories in the AFL. He is still my favorite all time player at UL. Pound for pound (5-9 175 lbs.) the best defensive player ever at UL. I beleive he made 3rd team all-american his senior year. His play in the upset against A&M will never be forgotten.

[RaginFan2]

Which team is he playing for?

[J-Town Cajun]

Orlando Predators
DB #2

[NewsCopy]

Last week, Grand Rapids Rampage defensive specialist Damon Mason became the first player in AFL history with 700 career tackles.

In a game with a heavy emphasis on offense, defense often takes a back seat. Don't bother sharing that with Mason, though, who had 3.5 tackles Saturday in the Rampage's 54-33 loss to the Nashville Kats.

Mason has reached the 100-tackle mark in a season for the fourth time in his career. The only other player to have accomplished the feat even twice is Colorado Crush defensive specialist Rashad Floyd.

Mason, a former University of Louisiana standout in his eighth AFL season, still holds the career tackling records for a single game, single season and career at his alma mater.

There's a saying in football when a player scores a lot of touchdowns that he has a nose for the end zone. Well, it can be said Mason has a nose for the guy with the football.

Don't let Mason's 5-foot-9, 195-pound frame fool you. He loves to hit. He has idolized former NFL linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Michael Singletary along with safety Ronnie Lott,

"Making tackles is the way I have made a name for myself in this league," said Mason, who was a salary cap casualty of the Orlando Predators and was released just before the league trading deadline after Week 8.

Because he was released, Mason was free to sign with any of the other 16 teams. He decided on Grand Rapids because he wanted to help the Rampage turn things around. But will he be back here next season?

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By Gary Bond
The Grand Rapids Press

[LongTimeCajun]

I still remember that interception he made at the end of the A&M game to seal the victory! (Even though if you watch the tape over again, the ball hit the ground.) Glad to see he's still representing our great school, not a bad record to hold, first one to 700 tackles in the AFL. Go Cajuns.