Starting Lineup: Mason Semmel has proven to be a good catch for the Hawks
To recognize the top players in Berks football MikeDragoSports.com has selected the “Starting Lineup,” a preseason All-Berks team that includes the top linemen, backs, receivers, linebackers and specialists.
Players were selected based on past performance, expected performance this season and college potential. Two-way players were given special consideration. One player will be introduced each day, in random order (the players are not ranked).
Former NFL lineman and recruiting expert Ross Tucker offers comments on some of the selections.
Mason Semmel, Hamburg
| 6-3 | 225 | Senior | TE/HB/MLB |
BACKSTORY: Months before he became Hamburg’s head football coach Matt Hoffert saw an unheralded sophomore tackle playing around in the gym with his teammates.
Hoffert did a double-take.
“I saw him catching balls with one hand,” Hoffert recalledd. “I thought: ‘There’s no way he should be a linemen.’ ”
That moment changed things for Mason Semmel, and the Hawks.
The lanky, 6-3 tackle slid over one spot on the line to tight end and helped transform both Hamburg’s offense and his football fortunes. His combination of size, speed and hands made him invaluable to what became the highest-scoring offense in program history.
“With his blocking experience (coming up as a lineman) he’s great on the edge,” Hoffert said.
“We moved him around a lot last year and used him as an H-back,” Hoffert said. “He fit perfectly into our offense. He’s got the perfect body build for it.”
That body’s both bigger and faster this season. Semmel entered camp at 225 pounds, about 30 more than he played at last season when he earned second-team all-league honors on offense.
He’s faster, too. He recorded a 4.71 laser-time 40 earlier this summer, shaving nearly two-tenths of a second off his time of a year ago.
“I was pretty excited about that,” said Semmel. “I’ve been trying to get in the weight room as much as I can, trying to put on good weight, and get quick. It’s starting to show a little bit.”
The coaches at St. Francis noticed; they offered him a scholarship in June after he attended a camp there. He’s on the radar of several other Ivy League and Patriot League schools.
Semmel’s height and 40 time aren’t the only numbers they like; they’re attracted by his 4.0 GPA just as much.
With QB Xander Menapace, RB/LB Pierce Mason and T/DE Charles Sheppard graduated Semmel will be a centerpiece for both the Hawks’ offense and their new 3-5 Stack defense.
He was a bit of a secret weapon last season when he emerged to catch 21 passes, five for touchdowns.
On defense he lined up as an edge pass rusher and record 16.5 tackles for loss and five sacks to go with 69 tackles and two forced fumbles. This season he’ll play middle linebacker and have one responsibility: Take down the ballcarrier.
“He’s free to the ball,” Hoffert said. “Hit a gap and go. That (defense) is perfect for a guy like that. He likes coming downhill and hitting somebody. He’ll be our quarterback on defense.”
On special teams, too. He plays on all of them. That’s why he was awarded the Hawk Award last season as the team’s ironman.
“He never came off the field,” Hoffert said.
ROLE: Two-year team captain will play tight end and H-back, middle linebacker and all special teams.
COLLEGE PROSPECTS: Offered by St. Francis. On the radar of other Division I programs.
TUCKER’S TAKE: “Such a fun player to watch. Love how Hamburg utilizes him on offense as a moving H-back, allowing him to showcase his versatility as both a receiver out of the backfield and as a blocker. Shows a really good closing burst on the defensive side of the ball. Really could play on either side at the next level.”
Starting Lineup
| Mason Semmel | Hamburg | HB/TE/DT |
| Ean Winchester | Twin Valley | HB/TE/DT |
| Zack Zandier | Exeter | TE/DE |
