NFL Draft 2014: Scouts think Tre Mason is just a system back and nothing special

With the Heisman Trophy set to be handed out on Saturday, a lot of talk is starting to shift to the NFL Draft. Part of this has to do with most of the teams in the NFL no longer being in the playoff hunt and the timing is impeccable with the Heisman Trophy ceremony. One of the players up for the award is garnering NFL Draft attention and Auburn’s Tre Mason is hoping he can take him the Heisman and boost his stock.

But that stock of his is what’s being discussed and it’s not as high as you’d think after the year he’s had. Despite being one of the best running backs in the country, NFL scouts aren’t that high on Mason and don’t view him ass a game changing back that will dominate draft position.

According to NFL.com reporter Albert Breer, NFL scouts are looking at Tre Mason as a system back and his success at Auburn is being credited more for the offense he runs in than Mason’s ability as a back.

"As one NFC GM said, “He’s a solid runner, but my gut is the offense is really the engine that drives the production. … “good speed, balance, burst and vision” and added that while Mason “lacks size,” he “has shown up on film each year before this one” (when Gus Malzahn arrived on the Plains)."

Things aren’t that bleak for Mason’s chances of becoming a solid NFL back though. Breer points out that as a system back, Mason should fit right in with a pass happy team looking for a back to catch passes out of the back field. In short, Mason won’t become a franchise running back but it does sound like he has a place in the NFL and it’s pretty valuable one.