Class of 2032 | Edgewood Middle School | Edgewood, TX

Mason Yates is a 7th grader, and he is one of the youngest players in his grade. At Edgewood Middle School, that did not matter once the quarterback competition started. Nobody handed him the job. He trained, he competed, and he took it.

Starting Young

Mason has been playing football for four years, and he says he has loved the game since he was little. His most memorable moment came early. In 4th grade, he scored his first touchdown as a quarterback.

“I still remember how excited I was,” Mason said. “That’s one of those football moments I’ll never forget.”

Today, he plays quarterback and cornerback for the Edgewood Bulldogs.

Earning the Starting Spot

Mason says the biggest challenge of his young career was winning the starting quarterback job, especially as one of the youngest players on the team.

“I knew I had to work for it, so I trained hard, kept getting better, and proved I could compete for the job,” he said.

He says the lesson stuck with him. “Earning that spot showed me that the work I put in when nobody is watching matters.”

Why He Plays Quarterback

Ask Mason what he loves most about the position and the answer starts with leadership and having the ball in his hands.

“I like being able to lead my team and having the ball in my hands,” he said. “I love making plays, competing, and helping my teammates get better. And of course, throwing touchdowns is pretty fun too.”

His idea of a great quarterback is simple. “A great quarterback has to be a leader, stay calm under pressure, work hard, and be confident. You’re going to make mistakes, so you have to learn from them, keep going, and always be ready for the next play.”

Learning From Tom Brady

Mason’s favorite quarterback is Tom Brady, and his reasons say a lot about how he sees the game.

“I like how competitive he was, how he stayed calm under pressure, and how he always found a way to win,” Mason said. “He worked hard and never stopped trying to get better.”

Year-Round Work and Big Stages

Mason trains year-round, and he has already seen some of the best competition in his age group. He has been selected multiple times to the Texas Power Rankings All Star event, BluChps, and Junior 150. He has also attended QBR camps and training and QB Ranch, and he works with TJ Edwards of Re4L Athletics.

Playing against older athletes has been part of the plan. “I’ve had the chance to work with a lot of great coaches, go to camps, and compete against older players,” he said.

When asked to name his favorite coach, he would not pick just one. “Every coach I’ve worked with has taught me something different and helped me become a better quarterback. I’m thankful for all of them because they’ve pushed me, believed in me, and helped me get better.”

The Next 12 Months

Mason is not done. He has clear goals, and they are specific.

• In the next six months, he wants to keep getting stronger and improve his throwing distance and accuracy.
• In the next 12 months, he wants to throw the ball 45 yards while staying accurate.
• Along the way, he wants to get better at reading defenses.

“My goal is just to keep working, keep competing, and see how far football can take me,” Mason said.

The Bottom Line

A young quarterback who wins a job over older players, trains when no one is watching, and handles mistakes by moving on to the next play is doing the things that matter most at this stage. Mason Yates is in 7th grade, he is in the Class of 2032, and he is already building the habits of a quarterback worth watching.

Read Mason’s full Quarterback Magazine profile: quarterbackmagazine.com/profile-about/mason-yates