Despite the offensive struggles against Alabama, one new Badger has been one of the best at his position after three games this season: Lance Mason.
Although he was one of the last players to join the team this year, tight end Lance Mason has been a huge bright spot on the Wisconsin offense. Based on PFSN's rankings, he's the sixth best tight end in the nation so far, one spot behind the man he replaced--Tanner Koziol.
Mason already making a case for one of the best offseason additions
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So far this season, Mason is tied for first on the Badgers in catches with nine, and second in receiving yards with 132. So while he was a late spring portal addition, he's already making his mark on a team that was desperate for playmakers. Last year, Tucker Ashcraft led all Badger tight ends in receptions with just 12.
The Missouri State transfer has been a key piece of the newly rebuilt Wisconsin offense and has filled in admirably for Ashcraft. While he may not have the same ceiling as Koziol, he fits Jeff Grimes' system well and has been an asset in the blocking game as well. Coming off a career-high season with 34 catches, he's on track to eclipse that by a wide margin, and in the Big Ten no less.
While the Badgers haven't been lighting up the scoreboard by any means in 2025, Mason has proven to be a key piece of the offense moving forward. In fact, his utilization may even grow as his comfort in the offense progresses throughout the year.