North Texas signee Mason Y’Barbo, C/LG, 6-2, 290, 5.52, Sulphur Springs High School, Sulphur Springs, Texas during the off season has been in weight room, competing in Texas High School Powerlifting Association (THSPA) events. During the recruiting process he was offered by North Texas, Houston, Louisiana-Monroe, Northwestern State, Portland State and Lamar.

He made only one official visit and it was to North Texas. After seeing the campus, what was going on with the new football stadium and after meeting Head Coach Todd Dodge, he knew becoming a Mean Green Eagle was the right thing to do. So he gave his oral commitment back in January and lived up to the commitment by signing his letter of intent.

On un-official visits he went to Houston,Stephen F.Austin and Northwestern State.

“I really think that UNT is on the verge of turning things around,” Y’Barbo stated. He points to “the fact that they were so close in so many games this year and that it is the first year Coach Dodge has been able to offer his complete allotment of scholarships.” As a result “it is a good combination, and I’m excited about playing in the new stadium next year.” 

Mason competes in the superheavy weight division in THPLA competition. In the March 5, 2010 district competition in the BWT category he totaled286 pounds, in the squat 555, bench press 335 and the dead lift 555 for a total of 1,440 pounds earning him third place honors. As a result he was selected an alternate to the state competition which was held in Abilene, Texas, March 27, 2010. What is impressive is just the month before on 2-20-10 he totaled 1,420 pounds so in a little over a month he was able to add an additional 20 pounds to his total.

Getting to state was important to Y’Barbo and was one of his goals in his senior season. About making it to state as an alternate, Y’Barbo states “I made my goal getting to state. Lifting at state would be fun but I’ll go to Abilene and cheer on my boys.”

He was invited to participate in the Max Emfinger’s 2010 All-American Bowl Classic. After Emfinger saw Y’Barbo’s tape he stated “I thought he was outstanding and I immediately offered him a chance to play.” He rated Y’Barbo a four star prospect and felt he was one of the top 250 players in the nation. Emfinger said it this way “his 4.67 in the pro-agility shuttle and 32 in the vertical jump is outstanding for an offensive lineman and his 5.2 is also very athletic and quick.” 

For North Texas Fans in the San Antonio area, Y'Barbo will be playing in the Texas Coaches All-Star Football game on July 20th. 

The Texas Sports Writers Association selected Y’Barbo as third team all-state center in Class 4A.

Last year in the 2008 National Underclassmen Combine at the Round Rock, Texas, Athletic Complex, Y’Barbo was the winner of the strongest man award where he pressed 185 pounds 22 times. In addition, he earned a share of the Offensive Lineman MVP Award.

He turned some heads at the way he performed at the combine. It was noted he “did a nice job of getting his hands inside on the defender…had excellent pad level at the point of contact” and uses his “hands as weapons.”They felt he is a true D-I player who can play center at the college level.

Sulphur Springs High School Head Coach Greg Owens said Y’Barbo is the type of player you need as an offensive linemen. “He’s just a nasty, good interior blocker” and he gets after people, pancakes them or knocks them down. In his senior year he recorded 59 pancake blocks and graded out 87%.  Most important he did not give up a sack all season.  According to the coach, he has the abilities to play center, lineman and can short snap. In addition, he thinks like an interior lineman. Owens stated the only drawback to Y’Barbo is his height. “If he was 3 or 4” taller” the big name teams would have offered a scholarship. “Mason has worked his tail off to make his dream of playing D1football come true.”

Owens went on to say Y’Barbo really does have talent to play at the Bowl Championship Series level because “he is a very physical player that is made to be an offensive lineman.” One extremely important asset is he can block in space which is extremely important to running backs. He will allow them to gain an extra several yards per carry.

Concerning Y’Barbo work ethics, Owens stated that Y’Barbo “is a dedicated player, one that possesses leadership capabilities and is a hard worker” not only in the weight room but in every aspect of the game. Y’Barbo has worked his way into a high caliber player and Owens feels he deserves the scholarship North Texas has offered. The coach thinks the North Texas coaches and the fans will not be disappointed when Y’Barbo takes the field. He feels that North Texas got a steal.

The scheme Y’Barbo played in high school is similar to the North Texas offensive scheme. It is a shotgun type spread offense attack. Sulphur Springs calls their spread offense “the NASCAR offense” because they just keep lining up and throwing the ball. What makes Y’Barbo great in this type of offense is his ability to use his feet. He can move them and is great at the pulling guard position. Since the two offenses are similar it is projected he will be able to adapt to the North Texas offense quickly.

He mostly played in the two point stance which is “not particularly quick when run blocking” according to some experts and that was a concern with some coaches who were looking at him. If he played in the three point stance in college some recruiting gurus feel he can overcome some of the limitations of the two point stance. While there are some concern that he was a little short armed and had a lack of lower body flexibility, his work in the combines and working out in weights should address those concerns. 

It maybe possible for him to play as a true freshman but according to his mom, Mitzi Y’Barbo, he feels he will be redshirt this upcoming season although“he will travel with the team” to away games.

His athletic abilities is not just limited to football or weightlifting, last weekend, 4-3-2010 he competed in Henderson, Texas in the discus where he finished second with a 130 feet toss.

Y’Barbo was recruited by UNT offensive line coach Spencer Leftwich.