At Whittier Middle School in the fall of 2021, Justin Jones was watching one man.
Norman North’s head coach could tell he was the most athletic kid on the field that day. Jones saw him as a player who’d make an instant impact once he was on the Timberwolves’ varsity team the next year.
That player was Mason James, an eighth-grader and the Warriors’ quarterback. Even though he was still in middle school, Jones saw athletic traits he hadn’t seen in most high school players he coached.
Jones is usually careful about bringing younger players to the varsity team. However, he believed he had a future star on his hands.
“We knew he was going to be a great athlete, and we’re super excited to have him,” Jones said. “The things he was able to do at that young age were big-time. When you watched him, you saw how fluid he was, and we knew he was going to be ready for the big moments.”
Two years later, James is making the impact Jones once envisioned he could at Norman North. The now-sophomore went from middle school quarterback to a versatile two-way player, tallying five touchdowns through five games in the 2023 season.
The Timberwolves have used James at many positions, including wide receiver, defensive back and even quarterback — his former position — in their wildcat formation. He’s one of three players who sports a green jersey at practice instead of white or black, signifying his status as a two-way player.
James has already accomplished many things but now he’s striving for two goals — to be one of the best in Oklahoma and to play college football.
“I just want to keep working, because that never stops for me,” James said. “There’s definitely a lot of pressure on me, … but I try not to stress about it. I just want to have fun here.”
Before James arrived at Norman North, he was already practicing with its varsity team. In 2022, he joined the Timberwolves for their spring practices and 7-on-7 team in the summer. He would also work with his father, Steve James, in the offseason. Those sessions, combined with his performances in the spring and summer, allowed him to solidify a role at Norman North.
“Coach Jones basically said to him, ‘I think you’re a varsity player, so you’ll be practicing with the varsity,’” said Amanda James, Mason’s mother. “He had that goal of playing on varsity as a freshman, and I knew he’d worked for it. He loved going up against those seniors in practice. It really made him better.”
Sophomore wide reciever Mason James at the Crosstown Clash game on Aug. 31.
Jones’ plan for James was to play him as a cornerback during his freshman year, then give him wide receiver reps his sophomore year to make him a two-way player. James was a backup for his first five varsity games, but earned his first start in his sixth against Jenks. Against the Trojans, James was part of a secondary that allowed just 103 passing yards in a 31-21 victory on Oct. 7, 2022.
Jones credits his performance as a driving force behind the victory. For James, it was the moment he arrived.
“It was just an amazing game,” James said. “I knew I had to really lock in for that one, and I did. I had a lot of big moments and was able to make some big plays.”
When the offseason came in 2023, the second part of Jones’ plan was implemented. James started working more with the first-team offense, lining up as both an outside and slot receiver. Off the field, he ran track to increase his speed, recording a personal best in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes.
Additionally, Amanda would take her son to Dallas to train with Margin Hooks, a wide receiver trainer who’s worked with several college receivers like former Oklahoma and current Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. There, he refined his technique and agility while also deepening his competitive drive.
It was a long offseason for James, but he thinks it was worth it.
“I was able to get comfortable at receiver,” James said. “I did a lot of different things, but I was able to make it all work. I just like playing football and I want to do it whenever I can.”
Now, James is one of Norman North’s starting receivers. He started the season with two touchdowns in the Timberwolves’ second game against Edmond Santa Fe and three in the next against Yukon. James was able to show his versatility in those games, earning three receiving scores and two rushing scores.
Timberwolves score first. Mason James runs the wildcat for a 4-yard score. Norman North up 7-0 with 5:34 in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/YjZZOY7jLx
— Nick Coppola (@Nick_Coppola__) September 16, 2023
Mason James now has a rushing and a receiving TD after this 30-yard screen pass goes for 6. James then runs in the 2-point conversion. 21-0 with 11:26 in the 2nd. pic.twitter.com/55Wypc1LE6
— Nick Coppola (@Nick_Coppola__) September 16, 2023
James also tries to be a leader by example by dedicating time to schoolwork, staying away from parties and reading his Bible every day. Jones calls James a “natural leader” becoming someone his teammates gravitate towards.
“He’s mature beyond his years,” Jones said. “You’d never know he’s a sophomore by being around him. The way he carries himself, the way he speaks and the way he conducts business is at a higher level than a lot of sophomores.”
James’ teammates and coaches describe him as a “character.” He’ll always find time to dance or crack jokes with teammates during practice. Sometimes he’ll have funny moments on the field, like scoring a rushing touchdown against Edmond Santa Fe after the snap hits him in the face.
But teammates also say there’s another side to James, appreciating his compassion and seriousness when needed.
“He knows when to have fun. But at the same time, he knows when to lock in,” said junior quarterback Owen Eshelman. “He’s very invested. When he wants to do something, he makes sure to put every ounce of effort he has into it.”
James has become Norman North’s (3-1) young phenom. He’s a do-it-all player and an energetic character, who will get another chance to impress against Broken Arrow (1-3) at 7 p.m. on Friday. In the future, James hopes to play college football. But right now, he’s focused on his main goal of winning as much as he can.
Most importantly, James wants to be as good of a person as he is a football player.
“I try to be nice to everyone. No matter who you are, I’m going to be respectful,” James said. “Whether it's the janitors, teachers, teammates or family, I want to help everyone that’s around me. When it’s school time, I do my schoolwork. When it’s field time, I do my fieldwork. I may look mean from afar, but I want to be as loving as I can.”
