Pryor’s Mason McAlvain
Pryor High School senior lineman Mason McAlvain has built his role in the Tigers program on toughness, accountability and a deep belief in the people around him. A two-way starter in the trenches, McAlvain embraces the physical grind that comes with being a cornerstone on both sides of the ball for Pryor. “What I love most about my team and teammates at Pryor is that we’re like a family. Everyone pushes each other to get better every day, and we always have each other’s backs on and off the field. I also love the coaches I do believe we have the best coaching staff in the state.”
That family mindset and trust in his coaches have helped shape his approach to the game and to leadership. “My coaches inspire me the most. They believe in me, challenge me to be my best, and have taught me that hard work, discipline, and accountability are what it takes to be successful not only in Football but in life also.”
With that foundation, McAlvain has become one of the players Pryor leans on in the middle of the action, doing the unseen work that makes the Tigers go. “I play nose guard, defensive tackle, on the defensive line, and right guard on the offensive line. I enjoy playing in the trenches because every play is physical. Not just anybody can get double and triple teamed every play on one side of the ball then go and play guard in a fast paced offense. I take pride in doing the dirty work up front, so my quarterback can stay clean on offense and so our linebackers can make plays on defense.”
That mentality has carried into the offseason, where Pryor’s summer has been about building on last year’s success. “Summer workouts have been going great. Everyone has been working hard and getting stronger. During spring ball, I learned that we have a team of guys that’s willing to put in the work, and if we stay focused and keep improving daily, together we can have a really successful season.”
McAlvain is a multi-sport athlete, throwing shot put in the spring and competing in powerlifting in the winter, but his primary focus is clear. “Right now, I am focusing on football and preparing for my senior season. I do throw shot in the spring and compete in powerlifting in the winter also though.”
Along the way, certain teammates have helped set his standard. “I have three teammates who have left an impression on me. The first was Kane Neil, he was a huge part of my freshman year getting me ready to start all 11 games as a freshman he never doubted me and pushed me to be a better version of myself not only my freshman year but throughout my entire high school career. The others are John Whipple and Braden Ward. Both of those guys are the definition of leaders they are both guys who we could all count on to be reliable and tough.”
Looking ahead, McAlvain wants to keep football at the center of his future. “I plan to play college football somewhere. Once my playing career is over, I want to make a career out of coaching football because I want to help younger athletes the same way my coaches have helped me.” He carries a clear lesson from last fall into this season. “One lesson I learned last year is that every rep matters. We only lost one game last year and it was because we had a slow start. The work you put in during practice and the offseason shows up on Friday nights.”
As he prepares for his final high school campaign, his goals are simple and demanding. “Being physical and playing hard every snap. I’m working on getting quicker, improving my technique, and becoming a better leader for everyone on the team.”
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