2018 North Texas Player Spotlight: Mason Fine

Photo by John Hamilton

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Mason Fine is already much more than just a good story.

"He’s a guy that can be special," North Texas coach Seth Littrell said. 

Littrell isn't exactly going out on a limb with that prophesy. In just two seasons, Fine has grown from an undersized, record-breaking passer in high sxhool that nobody wanted into the best quarterback in Texas.

At Locust Grove in Oklahoma, he was the only two-time player of the year in Oklahoma history, but his 13,081 career passing yards—eighth most all-time in American high school football—added up to zero FBS scholarship offers. That is, until Littrell and North Texas swooped in just weeks before signing day.

Turns out, being a 5-11, 170-pound kid who played out his career in 2A ball didn't preclude him from taking over Conference USA. After wrestling away the starting job in the second week of his freshman season in 2016, he broke out as the league's offensive player of the year in 2017.

Now, with Fine behind center, he's given the Mean Green a license to dream.

"He understands what his strengths are and what his weaknesses are. I can promise you every day he wakes up, he’s focused in on those weaknesses," Littrell said. "He’s going to grow and be twice the player he was last year."

No returning FBS quarterback threw for more yards than Fine's 4,052 in 2017, helping the Mean Green offense rank 19th in scoring. But there's plenty of room for improvement. Fine threw 15 interceptions and completed just 63 percent of his passes while giving up 39 sacks in 14 games, more than all but seven FBS teams. UNT was 0-4 in games he threw more than one interception.

With two seasons (and a division title) under his belt and two to go, there's plenty more on the table for Fine, Littrell and North Texas.

"He’s gotten so much better and comfortable in the offense. He understands what we’re trying to get accomplished. He’s seen so many different defenses," Littrell said. "He just has to continue to grow in that area, to understand what people are trying to do to him and our offense to try and take away certain things."

Two lopsided losses to conference rival Florida Atlantic, coached by Lane Kiffin, kept the Mean Green from their first conference title since 2004, but with Fine behind center and an offensive guru in Littrell manning the headset from the sideline, North Texas is in perfect position for another run at a trophy.

“Mason feels a lot more comfortable,” Littrell said. “Every day he goes out there and works, he learns something new about the offense.” 

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