4-star IOL Mason Short commits to Georgia: ‘You’re never going to go wrong with Georgia’

Evans (Ga.) four-star interior offensive lineman Mason Short announced his decommitment from Alabama on Jan. 16. That decision came three days after he took an unofficial visit to Georgia. 

The Bulldogs have been a consistent presence in Short’s recruitment, as the 6-foot-5.5, 300-pound recruit has visited Athens more than 20 times. Short will certainly be returning there in the future after announcing his commitment to Georgia on Friday. 

“You’re never going to go wrong with Georgia,” Short told On3. “It’s a program that’s always going to produce guys for the NFL and they have a history of development… Coach Stacy Searels is probably one of the best offensive line coaches in the country. What attracted me to the program and coach Searels was his relationships with his guys and how they feed off of him and his coaching and his teaching, as well as their interactions on and off the field with each other. 

“It’s the same with coach Kirby Smart and his message to his players. He says that you can’t hide from the smoke at Georgia. That’s true at a lot of places, but at Georgia, it’s really true.” 

Short already feels like one of Georgia’s players

Short, who chose the Bulldogs over Clemson, has already developed such a strong relationship with Searels that he has “felt like one of his players for a while now.” The No. 30 player in Georgia is excited to be developed and become a better football player by learning from the Bulldogs assistant. 

Searels has built a close connection with Short, along with his entire family. Their bond originally started when Short was in eighth grade. 

“From day one, he hasn’t changed his message to me because I think he knew what I could be developed into today and right now,” said Short, the No. 222 overall prospect and No. 13 interior offensive lineman in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. “That’s what the message has been. The message hasn’t changed. He wants me badly and I told him recently that I wanted to play for him.” 

Short is also excited to play for Smart

Short privately committed to Georgia’s staff on campus during a March 28 visit, which caused Searels to go “crazy” with excitement. He is not only looking forward to playing for Searels, but also Smart. 

The four-star likes how Smart has developed a brotherhood within the SEC program and allows his players to hold each other accountable. Short is confident that Smart is someone that will make him better on and off the field. 

“He makes everyone feel welcome,” Short said. “That’s a guy you want to play for, someone who’s energetic. He will call you out and make you be accountable to you. That’s what I love about him. He tests his guys every day physically and mentally. That’s something I want to be a part of.”