Mason Brooks Bio
Mason Barrett Brooks (born October 11, 1999) is an American professional football guard who has spent time with multiple National Football League franchises since entering the league as an undrafted free agent. Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 143 kilograms, he has built his career as an offensive lineman capable of playing tackle and guard. After a college career split between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Ole Miss Rebels, Brooks has worked to establish himself on professional rosters and practice squads across the NFL and the United Football League.
A native of Texas, Brooks progressed from a two-star high school recruit to a starter in Conference USA and later in the Southeastern Conference. Since 2023, he has been signed, released, and re-signed by several organizations, demonstrating the journeyman path many late-developing linemen follow. His career arc has included a major college award, an NFL opportunity, brief stops in Carolina and Indianapolis, and a return to professional football through the UFL and a final 2025 training camp.
Early Life and Background
Mason Barrett Brooks was born on October 11, 1999, in Cedar Park, Texas, a growing city northwest of Austin. He grew up in Cedar Park and attended Cedar Park High School, where he developed into a football player. Coming out of high school, Brooks was rated as a two-star recruit, a modest evaluation that reflected his developmental potential rather than immediate stardom.
Despite his rating, Brooks drew attention from several college programs. He received scholarship offers from Abilene Christian, Lamar, Liberty, McNeese State, and Sam Houston State, before ultimately choosing to commit to Western Kentucky. The decision to join the Hilltoppers gave him an opportunity to refine his offensive line technique at the Football Bowl Subdivision level and laid the foundation for his eventual professional opportunity.
Path to American Football
Brooks began his college career at Western Kentucky in 2018, the year of his true freshman season. He appeared in seven games as a reserve left tackle, a position that allowed him to absorb blocking schemes and build strength against edge rushers. By his sophomore season in 2019, he had played in 12 games while logging a small number of offensive snaps, continuing his development along the offensive line.
The 2020 season marked a significant step forward. Brooks played in and started all 12 games, finishing the year with 764 offensive snaps and earning a full-time starting role. In 2021, he started 11 games for the Hilltoppers, and his play was recognized with First-team All-Conference USA honors, an award that established him as one of the top offensive linemen in the conference. On December 13, 2021, Brooks announced he would enter the transfer portal, and on January 17, 2022, he confirmed he would transfer to Ole Miss of the Southeastern Conference.
Mason Brooks Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Brooks’s first two seasons at Western Kentucky served as a developmental runway, with limited offensive snaps in 2018 and 2019. The 2020 and 2021 campaigns provided his breakthrough at the college level, with 12 and 11 starts respectively and a First-team All-Conference USA selection in 2021. That award convinced him he was ready for a higher level of competition.
At Ole Miss in 2022, Brooks played in all 13 games, contributing as a reserve offensive lineman and on special teams with the field goal and extra point unit. Although he was not a full-time starter for the Rebels, the season gave him exposure to SEC-level speed and strength, and it positioned him for a professional opportunity.
NFL Debut and Washington Commanders (2023–2024)
Although Brooks was selected by the Memphis Showboats fourth overall in the 2023 USFL draft, his NFL path opened on April 30, 2023, when he signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent. He spent the 2023 offseason and preseason with Washington before being released on August 29. The Commanders signed him to their practice squad the following day, keeping him in the organization.
Brooks re-signed with Washington on February 22, 2024, returning for another offseason. He was released on August 14, 2024, as the team trimmed its roster ahead of the regular season. His two-year stint in Washington gave him his first sustained exposure to an NFL program and marked his entry into the league.
Carolina Panthers (2024)
On August 15, 2024, Brooks was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers, a quick turnaround following his release from Washington. He was waived on August 27 and re-signed to the practice squad, an indication that Carolina saw developmental value in him. Three days later, however, he was cut again as the team finalized its roster.
Indianapolis Colts (2024)
Brooks returned to an NFL practice squad on November 12, 2024, when he was signed by the Indianapolis Colts. The midseason addition provided another opportunity to work within a professional program and continue refining his craft as an offensive lineman.
DC Defenders (2025)
On February 17, 2025, Brooks signed with the DC Defenders of the United Football League, a spring professional league. The move offered him a chance to play in regular games and rebuild his resume. He was placed on injured reserve on June 2, ending his UFL season.
Miami Dolphins (2025)
Brooks returned to the NFL on August 19, 2025, when he signed with the Miami Dolphins ahead of the 2025 season. He was waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts, a common outcome for journeyman linemen competing for limited roster spots.
Notable Events and Milestones
Brooks’s most notable collegiate honor came in 2021, when he was named First-team All-Conference USA during his final season at Western Kentucky. His entry into the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and his subsequent practice squad stints with multiple organizations represent the most important markers of his professional career so far.
Mason Brooks Career Highlights
College Highlights
Brooks’s standout college moment came in 2021, when he started 11 games for the Hilltoppers and earned First-team All-Conference USA recognition. The award followed a 2020 season in which he started all 12 games and logged 764 offensive snaps, establishing himself as a full-time starter.
Mason Brooks Family
Personal Life
Mason Barrett Brooks was raised in Cedar Park, Texas, and continues to be identified with that community. Public information about his immediate family, marital status, and children is not available in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season opened for Brooks with a move to the DC Defenders of the UFL, where he signed on February 17, 2025. His time with the Defenders ended on June 2, 2025, when he was placed on injured reserve, cutting short his spring season.
Looking to return to the NFL, Brooks signed with the Miami Dolphins on August 19, 2025, joining the team for training camp and the preseason. He was waived on August 26 as part of the Dolphins’ final roster cuts, leaving his status for the remainder of the 2025 season uncertain.
With a First-team All-Conference USA award from 2021, SEC experience at Ole Miss, and stints with five professional organizations since 2023, Brooks remains a mobile offensive lineman seeking his next opportunity. His path through 2025 reflects the ongoing challenge of securing a stable roster spot in professional football.