Florida Gators
SEC Coaches Classic - Day 1
Halter landed unexpectedly with Gators and welcomes the challenge
Thursday, August 20, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – One of the most famous football coaches in history, Vince Lombardi, graduated from Fordham.
So did Vin Scully, arguably the greatest baseball announcer of all-time.
Denzel Washington, one of the most successful actors of his generation, is a Fordham man.
How does Mason Halter stack up against some of Fordham's most famous alumni?
Well, the 6-foot-6, 295-pound Halter owns a huge size advantage and he was a two-time All-American for the Rams.
That's a good start for a guy who is now in graduate school at Florida and a candidate to start on the Gators' offensive line.
A three-year starter at Fordham, located in New York City, Halter did not play as a freshman in 2011 after being diagnosed with mononucleosis. Over the next three seasons Halter became a standout offensive tackle for the Rams, who play in the Patriot League.
However, the Patriot League does not acknowledge redshirt seasons, so with one year of eligibility remaining and his Fordham undergraduate degree in hand, Halter committed to play his final season at Old Dominion until Florida called in the spring.
“Offensive line was thin here,'' he said. “I just kind of went on the market. My coaches from Fordham helped me out.”
Fordham tight end coach Ian Pace is the brother of Gators graduate assistant Christian Pace. He vouched for Halter, who decided he couldn't pass up an opportunity to play at Florida and test his skills against Southeastern Conference defensive linemen.
“It just seemed like a great fit for me,'' Halter said. “Definitely a big jump in talent. It's great for me. I love the challenge. It's going to make me a better offensive lineman.”
Halter is learning about his new team on the fly.
The Gators can say the same about Halter.
“Mason Halter is kind of the wild card,” coach Jim McElwain said. “He's a guy that's proven he can play a couple spots.”
Halter is adjusting to the Florida summer heat during camp and has his good days and bad days. He is anxious to experience a game in The Swamp.
In his final game at Fordham, Halter played in front of about 2,500 fans.
If the Patriot League honored redshirt seasons, Halter said he would still be at Fordham preparing for the Rams' opener on Sept. 4 at Army. He was not looking to leave.
Instead, he'll be in a Gainesville hotel that night anticipating his Florida debut the next day against New Mexico State.
“This is a lot different situation,'' he said.
