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Mason Shipley boasts a stat only one other Longhorn has to his name

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•04/22/25•

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Mason Shipley

In the long history of Texas football, only one player has converted a field goal longer than 60 yards. Russell Erxleben, one of Texas’ two three-time All-Americans, a four-time first-team All-Southwest Conference selection, and the No. 11 overall pick in the 1979 draft, nailed an NCAA-record three 60-yarders during the 1977 season including the current NCAA record of 67 yards versus Rice.

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No other Texas kicker has converted an attempt longer than 57 yards. But the Longhorns are bringing in a kicker in Texas State’s Mason Shipley that has a 60-yarder to his name.

Shipley, who was the primary place-kicker for the Bobcats from 2022-2024, nailed a 60-yard field goal last season against Sam Houston State. The successful attempt came at the halftime whistle of the Bobcats’ loss to the Bearkats inside Houston’s NRG Stadium.

Texas State Bobcats vs Sam Houston State Bearkats | September, 28th 2024
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In his career, Shipley is 3-for-4 on attempts of 50 or more yards.

To compare, former Texas kicker Bert Auburn, who is no longer listed on the roster on TexasLonghorns.com, was 0-for-2 from 50+ in 2024 and 2-for-4 in 2023 with a long of 54. Auburn’s best trait in 2023 was his accuracy from 50 yards and closer, where he was 27-for-31 with one miss from inside of 40 yards.

That trait left him in 2024, specifically from 40-49 yards where he was 6-for-12.

In comparison, Shipley was 15-for-15 in 2023 and 15-for-19 in 2024. Shipley was 13-for-16 from 50 and in in 2024.

Shipley’s greater ability to convert on long field goals helps not only the Longhorn special teams, but the Texas offense. Steve Sarkisian, should Shipley’s sought-after kicking ability translate up IH-35, could elect to take the points more often as opposed to keeping his offense on the field for 4th-and-medium situations due to inconsistent kicking.

The ability to convert from 50 or further, something Shipley’s 60-yarder shows he has, could be another weapon for Sarkisian as well as a security blanket in situations where points are all that’s needed.

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Texas long field goals (55+)

  • 67 – Russell Erxleben – Rice – 1977
  • 64 – Russell Erxleben – Oklahoma – 1977
  • 60 – Russell Erxleben – Texas Tech – 1977
  • 59 – Russell Erxleben – Texas A&M – 1978
  • 58 – Russell Erxleben – Oklahoma – 1977
  • 58 – Russell Erxleben – at Arkansas – 1977
  • 57 – Cameron Dicker – at Rice – 2019
  • 57 – Jeff Ward – at Texas A&M – 1985
  • 57 – Russell Erxleben – Boston College – 1977
  • 57 – Russell Erxleben – SMU – 1976
  • 56 – Scott Szeredy – Houston – 1993
  • 56 – Michael Pollak – at Baylor – 1990
  • 56 – Mike Dean – at TCU – 1974
  • 55 – Mark Schultis – at Texas Tech – 1994
  • 55 – Wayne Clements – at BYU – 1988
  • 55 – Jeff Ward – at Arkansas – 1985
  • 55 – Russell Erxleben – Colorado – 1975
  • 55 – Happy Feller – UCLA – 1970

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