Luke Masterson: Path To The NFL Draft
By Simon Carroll
NFL Draft prospects are often asked if they love football. It’s a team’s way of understanding if the person they are investing in is ready to give everything they have to the cause, because amongst the elite the game has to offer, just liking the sport is simply not good enough.
Luke Masterson didn’t know what he could achieve when he first embarked on his football journey. Like most kids, his dream to play in the NFL would likely be just that – a dream. But his passion for the game would lead him to doing whatever it took to get on the field and succeed, and take him to the brink of making that childhood dream a reality. He sits down with Simon Carroll to discuss his path to the NFL Draft:
Early Memories
The eldest of eight children, Luke Masterson was pretty much the pioneer of his family when it came to playing sports. Born in beautiful Naples, Florida, he has the classic sun-kissed blonde hair and bright smile you’d expect from someone who had lived the beach life throughout their younger years. But Masterson was far more at home on a sports field, and wasted no time in being a part of anything and everything available to him:
“I guess I kind of started off the sports journey in my family. I started off playing anything I could really – I think soccer was the sport you could play at the youngest age, six years old or something. As I got older that transitioned to basketball and flag football, and even a little bit of baseball. So I kinda did everything. Then at the age of ten I got introduced to tackle football, and I fell in love with it immediately. I basically dropped all the other sports ever since then. I played running back all throughout pee wee football and into middle school, and as I got older my brothers and sisters all started picking up sports too. The Mastersons became a real sporting family.”
Masterson went on to go to Gulf Coast High School, keen to continue his athletic exploits. But as a first year running back, seeing game time was difficult. Luke credits his then defensive coordinator Todd Nichols for helping him change his football trajectory by encouraging him to embrace a change of position:
“My freshman year I was buried on the depth chart and kinda frustrated. Coach Nichols was helping out with the freshman team back then, and knew how desperate I was to play. We were short of safeties, and he trusted me as an athlete that I could go and make some plays. He took me under his wing, threw me out there, and I ended up doing pretty well! He saw the potential in me, and since that first game he put me in I’ve built up a great relationship with him, and he really helped me grow as a player and a person throughout high school”.
High School Heroics
“I ended up doing pretty well” might go down as the understatement of the year from Luke Masterson. During his time at Gulf Coast, the new safety was a two-time captain who got better each season – culminating in a senior year where he was named academic player of the year and recorded 45 tackles, 31 pass breakups and 6 interceptions – the most takeaways in the state of Florida in 2015. Unsatisfied with just playing defense, Masterson’s passion for football meant he found ways to see even more of the field – masquerading as a wide receiver, playing special teams, and remarkably becoming the team’s punter:
“I forget how it came up, but we were kind of messing around at practice, my junior year of high school. We needed a punter, so we had a tryout and I got the job! I ended up getting stuck back there, and I did kinda well; I had something of a rugby kick style with a roll – no crazy hangtime or anything, but it was something fun and it helped the team out, so I was all for it.”
I’m learning two things very quickly here. Firstly, Luke Masterson will literally do ANYTHING to get on a football field and contribute, whether that be a total change of position or picking up extra duties to help out the team. Secondly, when I hear the phrase “I did kinda well”, I know I’m going to have to check the stats because it’s highly likely the humble Masterson is downplaying his performance. True to form, it turns out he finished fifth in punting – out of eighty teams – in 7A Class football in Florida.
How To Get Recruited 101
Luke Masterson left Gulf Coast High School as a football star in the making. His success seemed to have surprised everyone; himself, his family, and, most notably, college football programs. As the first of the Mastersons to possibly have the opportunity to earn a scholarship through football, Luke and his inner circle had a steep learning curve ahead of them:
“Like I said, as I’m the oldest, I didn’t have any brothers or family members who had gone through this before me. So I was just figuring it out as I went along. Once I realised I had the opportunity and my head coach realised too, he sat me down with my family and kind of walked us through everything we would have to do to maximise the possibility of me playing college football. One of the things he suggested was to make as many different training camps as possible. So me and my dad sat down and mapped out an itinerary of where to go for these one-day camps, focusing on any schools that had shown an interest.”
One of those said schools was a twelve hour drive north to Winston Salem. Wake Forest University sits in the heart of North Carolina, a prestigious academic school whose athletic teams participate in the renowned Atlantic Coast Conference. Masterson put on a show at the camp, and was offered a scholarship within a week. For Luke, it was the perfect fit:
“For me, I valued academics as well as football, and Wake Forest provided the best opportunity for me that combined those two values. It offered the opportunity to play in the ACC against great competition every week, and I really liked the coaching staff – they created a special culture that I loved when I was up there, and I knew I wanted to be a part of that.”
Developing With The Demon Deacons
Primarily regarded as a basketball school, Wake Forest might not be the top of the list of places to go for the most highly prized football recruits, regardless of it’s participation in one of the elite conferences in college sports. Despite that, the program has enjoyed a level of sustained success under the current regime of head coach Dave Clawson and his staff. According to Masterson, that success is a result of a culture of development in Winston Salem that he and many others have benefited from:
“Wake Forest is a developmental program. I would say at least 90% of the guys that go there redshirt year one; we don’t necessarily get the big recruits that other programs get, and it was no different in my year. We were a bunch of two and three star guys, maybe a couple of four stars in there, so the culture at Wake is that you grow as a person and grow as a player over your time there. You slowly play more and more as you develop, until you become a junior and a senior and you’re a very good football player. You know what you’re doing, you know how to do it, and you usually do it well. I kinda knew that beforehand and loved it, knew it was my path. So I used that redshirt year to get stronger, making the most of the workout programs, getting acclimated to the college lifestyle, and understanding what it takes to play at that level.”
After redshirting in 2016, Masterson finally sees some action as a freshman. He makes his debut in week 1, recording a couple of tackles in a win against Presbyterian. As happy as he was to contribute, Luke admits he was still in development mode during that early part of his collegiate career:
“My first season playing, I was a one or two unit guy on special teams. Then I worked my way up to a three or four unit starter. And with injuries, I was able to play a little defense as well. It was a definite wake-up call though, because as a freshman you might think you’re gonna walk in there and play, but the truth is you just don’t know what you don’t know. The level of competition was eye opening, but it helped me prepare for what was necessary to compete the next few years.”
Adversity And Adapting
His first three seasons on the field, Luke Masterson grows into becoming a key contributor on the defense. Primarily playing as a safety, Masterson records 108 tackles in his first 25 games. But just as the team looks ready to break out and be a real challenger in the ACC, a shoulder injury against Louisville in week 6 of the 2019 season knocks him out for the rest of the year. 5-0 until that point, the team goes just 3-5 the rest of the way. For Masterson, it was frustrating not being able to help his team:
“I knew going into that year we had a really special team. A ton of depth at each position, some great leadership, and it all just looked like it was coming together. For me personally I had become a fully fledged starter, had just got myself into a groove, and then to suffer that injury in the sixth game really sucked. The worst part was not being out there helping my teammates, and I wasn’t the only one – we had key injuries on both the offense and elsewhere on the defense. It took the wind out of the sails of what would have been a special year, and whilst we finished okay it wasn’t the season we hoped to have.”
Despite the setback, Masterson was evolving as a football player. And he was getting bigger too, leading to an opportunity that would once again positively adjust the direction of his career:
“I came to Wake at 195lbs as a safety, a decent size. I was big and skinny, not as strong as I should have been, but I had the frame to add more weight. Every year I would take advantage of the team’s great offseason program, and as my body matured as a man, I added some weight and filled out a little more each season. Over the course of my career I went from 195 to pushing 220lbs, and the coaches saw that. They spoke to me about switching to the outside linebacker or ‘rover’ position in 2020, a role I had a little experience of from 2018 when I covered injuries at the position. I had no technique back then, but I was happy to make the switch to help the team out. I could learn the playbook quick and I play instinctually, so I embraced the move and grew into the role.”
Super Senior
Luke Masterson returned to Winston Salem for his super senior year, and quite simply balled out. The transformation to linebacker was complete; as a 231lb tackling machine with the athleticism of a defensive back, Masterson records 85 tackles, 13.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks as The Demon Deacons have a season to be proud of, reaching the ACC Championship Game. Memories of the ‘nearly season’ back in 2019 were banished as Wake Forest flirt with the college football playoffs.
“Even when it was announced we could have an extra year, I was sceptical about coming back. I sat down at the end of 2020 and really worked out the pro’s and con’s, but when it came down to it a big reason for returning was the full-time switch to linebacker and to fulfil my potential at the position. It was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. Personally it was fantastic to play linebacker each week and get better each week, but to be a part of that team and that moment for Wake Forest will be something I’ll never forget. It was the perfect way to end my career.”
I ask Masterson what his greatest achievement is during his time at Wake. He tells me he was proud to be twice named a captain by his teammates, a testament to his growth as a leader and not just a football player. He credits this maturity to the coaching staff and the process that Dave Clawson has put in place to get the most out of people. It wasn’t easy, and nothing is given to you, but you can tell that Masterson wouldn’t have had it any other way:
“The way he does things is to develop guys. He wants guys to know what they’re doing, to buy into the culture, and he’s not going to play guys if they don’t do that. He does a great job of making you ready, and because of that he holds you accountable; it doesn’t matter if you’re a first year guy or a sixth year guy – he’s going to hold you to the same standard he sets. We’ve had a lot of guys leave during my time here because they couldn’t live up to that standard or follow the rules, and he’s willing to live with that rather than bend the rules for talent. When everyone buys into that vision, it helps create success”.
Keeping The Dream Alive
At every step of his football life, Luke Masterson has done what was required to be able to keep playing the game he loves. Two position changes have not only been embraced, but conquered – and he’s far from done yet. To keep his unlikely boyhood dream alive, Masterson must now embark upon a new challenge; attracting the interest of the NFL.
Winning defensive MVP of the recent Hula Bowl is a hell of a start in that regard. The showcase event offered Masterson the opportunity to show scouts what he can do, and with his performance that week it’s probably safe to assume they’re going back to the film room and turning on his tape. Perhaps more crucially, it allowed Masterson access to NFL teams off the field, something he admitted he hadn’t experienced before:
“I really didn’t know what to expect, but it was a great week. And every day you had like three or four hours to talk to teams, give them an idea of who you are as much as what you can do on the field. But obviously learning from legends like Wade Phillips, I was just trying to be a sponge and take on board as much as possible. But all the conversations I had were great. I think I did well showing them my football IQ and personality.”
We discussed a future role in the NFL. Masterson downplayed my suggestion of him picking up punting duties and saving a team a roster spot. But whilst he considers himself a true linebacker, he appreciates his varied football history and athleticism will allow a defensive coordinator to use him in a number of ways:
“I definitely believe my background as a safety will help me in the future. The way the game’s changing now, you have to cover zones and you have to cover running backs in space. With my speed and instincts, I can do that well. For eight years I’ve covered slot receivers and played the middle of the field, and I’ve lost none of that. While I do want to stay as a linebacker, that skillset I’ve acquired is coming with me to the NFL, and will allow me to do a lot of different things.”
Draft Focus
Once again, Masterson enters the unknown as he enters the NFL Draft process. Since the Hula Bowl he’s back home in Naples, travelling the short distance to Fort Myers to work out at X3 Performance with other linebacker and defensive line prospects. His immediate focus is improving his testing numbers ahead of Wake Forest’s pro day on March 30th, one final opportunity for Luke to demonstrate the speed and athleticism he brings to the field ahead of the NFL Draft in April.
A stopwatch isn’t necessary to know Masterson can move. Watch the two clips below and you can see him chase the quarterback or take the down ball carrier. But what makes him really special is the addition of power to his game – the way he knocks that lineman over is just rude. It’s this dangerous blend of strength and speed that makes him a truly intriguing draft prospect. And knowing he brings that ability as a special teams contributor increases his value even more.
I understand why Luke Masterson hasn't been a linebacker until this season. (Other than that time at FSU)
— Conor O'Neill (@ConorONeill_DI) September 27, 2021
Still though why hasn't Luke Masterson been a linebacker until this season? pic.twitter.com/x3AYT6LYP3
Maybe Luke Masterson's next position should be DE. pic.twitter.com/SwTdKVRFqc
— Conor O'Neill (@ConorONeill_DI) November 15, 2021
Being on the verge of playing football for a living is obviously special to Masterson, who as a boy back in Naples, Florida, had no idea how far he could go:
“Every kid dreams of hearing their name called on draft weekend and I’m no different. Playing backyard football with your brothers, pretending you’re in the league, it would mean the world to me to actually achieve that. All the hard work I’ve put in, and all the hard work my people have put in to get to that point, it would be a very emotional moment.”
If any scout needs to ask, Luke Masterson LOVES football. It just so happens he’s damn good at it too.
A huge thank you to Luke for taking the time to talk to us. Everyone at The Touchown wishes him well in his future career.