SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Mason Thrush has learned a lot over a short period of time spent at Hutchinson Community College. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound starting center for the No. 1-ranked Blue Dragon football team spent last year utilizing his redshirt season.
"First learning the speed of college football, that was a big part of it," Thrush said. "Then kind of physically maturing in the weight room, conditioning and all of that definitely plays a factor in how much I've changed in a year."
Thrush played left tackle at Maize High School, but has adjusted to everyday life as the center in Hutchinson.
"First of all, I'm a little bit undersized to play college left tackle," Thrush said with a laugh. "Overall, I think my mind has helped me out a lot. When I was at Maize, I was always helping out and calling slides and stuff like that, so once I got here I just moved to the middle of the line and communicated back and forth."
There is a lot that goes on in the time between plays for Thrush.
"I've been lucky enough that in high school we did hand signals and stuff like that at Maize," Thrush said. "Basically in my mind I look, I get the play call, but then I've got to make my slide calls, call double teams and check all the linebackers to make sure I don't see any blitzes or stuff like that."
The transition from left tackle to center has definitely been an adjustment for Thrush.
"So at left tackle you have a lot more space to work with," Thrush said. "When you move to center, it's real close quarters and as soon as you snap the ball you've got to be ready, because they're in your face going."
Tony Koehling is the offensive coordinator, as well as the offensive line coach for the Blue Dragons.
"He's one of the most winning coaches in JUCO, so he's very knowledgeable," Thrush said. "He makes it real simple for us to get it and he is a real key figure to our success."
One thing fans may notice when watching the center to quarterback exchange is the fact that Thrush is left-handed.
"It's something I've dealt with my whole life," Thrush said. "I've always been left-handed, so it's different and people don't really see it that often, but when they notice it, they notice it."
Thrush was injured and required attention on the field twice in the win over Iowa Central on Sept. 14, but refused to miss any playing time.
"You've got to be tough, especially like mentally," Thrush said. "There is so much going on and you've got to remember all the plays and stuff like that, so getting banged up is part of the job, so especially for me, mentally, I always think I got to keep going. Especially in that last game when you're down 14 with less than six minutes left, you have no choice, you have to get up and keep going."
While the quarterback may be the focal point on every play, the ball doesn't get to the quarterback without the center.
"Basically he kind of controls the backfield, receivers and all of that," Thrush said. "I've got to handle the o-line and make sure they're doing what they need to be doing and if there is any confusion with any of that, the center is kind of the guy that has to figure it out and let everyone know what's going on."
The speed and athleticism of athletes at the junior college level is something Thrush has noticed thus far.
"Technique is almost everything when it comes to an offensive lineman," Thrush said. "Especially against the defensive linemen you're going up against at the college level, they're super athletes, they're going to be faster than you, they're going to be stronger than you and some of them will even weigh more than you. The thing is as long as you have good technique and you are using your mind, there is no reason they should beat you."
Like most position groups do, the offensive line has developed a special brotherhood.
"Especially the starters this year, we all redshirted together last year and kind of developed and grew together," Thrush said. "We're all like a family at this point, even though we've only known each other for like a year and a half now, we pretty much spend all day together and hang out together outside of football."
Thrush says he is closest to Carson Bradley, a 6-foot-6, 310-pound redshirt freshman from Quincy, Fla.
"You all know him as Carson Bradley, but I call him 'Dirt' because he's got the flowing mullet," Thrush said. "Me and Dirt are going to be best friends for awhile."
Thrush wears jersey number 66, something he has done since middle school.
"When my dad was in high school, he played at Wichita Northwest," Thrush said. "He always wore 66 growing up, playing center and defensive end, so I asked him when I got into middle school what number he wore and he told me he was 66, so I told him that's what I was going to wear."
He gives a lot of credit to his Maize High School coach, Gary Guzman.
"He is extremely knowledgeable and knows how to win football games," Thrush said. "We went to state my junior and senior year, so he knows what he's talking about and can be hard sometimes, but I've always had and always will have respect for him."
There is one thing Thrush says people should know about him.
"I'm a huge nerd, I'm not going to lie to you," Thrush said. "I like comic books, I like Star Wars, I like reading, all that kind of stuff. I take care of my grades and all of that, so mainly it's I'm a nerd."
Thrush is the featured player on "Under the Helmet" this week. You can hear the full interview with Thrush at halftime of Saturday's game against Ellsworth. Kickoff is at noon from Gowans Stadium. The game will be broadcasted on the flagship station for Blue Dragon athletics, KHUT-FM (102.9) and KWBW-AM/FM (1450/98.5), as well as on the Blue Dragon Sports Network.