Bentonville CB Tyrone Mahone has all the Motivation needed for a Great Senior Season

Written by Ryan Wright

The last two seasons Bentonville High School has been the best football program in the state of Arkansas come season’s end. Among the many talented players donning a helmet and shoulder pads for the Tigers during this incredible run has been cornerback Tyrone Mahone.

Mahone has arguably been one of the best cornerbacks in the state of Arkansas coming up with 42 tackles, four tackles for a loss, and two picks during his sophomore season and then had 41 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble as junior last season. He even caught four passes turning one reception into a score in 2014.

All of the competitive greatness Bentonville has displayed on the field with back-to-back titles seemed bleak early in the 2014 season. The Tigers opened the season with four straight losses falling to Rockhurst – Kansas City, MO (17-16), Broken Arrow – Broken Arrow, OK (34-0), Bergen Catholic – Oradell, NJ (21-10), and Southside – Fort Smith, AR (10-7). Kudos to legendary head coach Barry Lunney for keeping the team together through the tough opening stretch.

Bentonville will take the field in 2015 with new head coach Jody Grant on the sidelines after Coach Lunney retired, but the Tigers enter the season with the same goal in mind as established the last two years, win a 7A State Championship title.

The motivation is there for all but for Mahone, he brings a different type of predetermination to the party. In Bentonville’s 42-10 semi-finals win over North Little Rock, Mahone suffered a serious injury breaking his ankle. The injury perhaps unsweetened the state title a little bit and also hindered him in the scholarship offer department.

Throughout the 2014 season the 6’0”, 175 pound, cover corner attended as many Arkansas Razorback home games as possible getting multiple opportunities to mingle with the football coaching staff. The budding relationship between the Hogs and the rising Class of 2016 star from just down the road was promising leading many to believe an offer was imminent, and then the injury occurred.

Before the injury, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Kansas State, Memphis, Missouri, Navy, Nebraska, and Purdue had all shown some signs of interest. Those interests hold true but all now have a wait-and-see mentality wanting to make sure Mahone can get back to his 4.43 forty-yard dash speed and the 4.19 shuttle explosiveness that made him one of the best in-state.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Tyrone to go over his offseason recovery, received an update on where he is at physically, and got his thoughts on the upcoming 2015 season.

Interview
Tyrone, what a unique story Bentonville gave the football world in 2014. You guys lost your first four games and then got it together to win nine straight and a second Arkansas State Championship. How did you guys regain your focus to turn the season around?

“Our fifth game, on the opening kickoff we kicked it off to Northside (29-26) and they returned it back for a touchdown. We thought we were going to take another loss but then something started clicking.

“We ended up getting out ahead on them. Once we won that game we knew the next couple of games ahead of us that we’d be able to handle it pretty well. We carried that momentum into the game against Fayetteville (45-2). We really got them. I think it was by 40 plus points. That carried us into the playoffs as well.”

How do the Tigers look heading into the 2015 season?

“At first there were questions because the lack of depth on our line. We pretty much lost our entire line except three guys on both sides of the ball. Going through spring ball, spring camps, and summer ball we feel like we are in pretty good shape. We’re in better shape than what people give us credit for.”

What is the strength of this year’s football team?

“We have our quarterback (Kasey Ford) coming back and our receivers, even though most of our receivers don’t have that much experience. We have a really deep receiving core depth wise. Our DBs and linebackers are really experienced. That is our most strengthful places.”

What are some of your strengths at cornerback?

“Most coaches say my length, my speed, and I can tackle well. I also, I’m more of a cover corner, but I can tackle too.”

Did you earn any individual honors at the end of last season?

“Yeah I was All-State first-team and I’ve been selected as preseason All-State first-team.”

What are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“To win a state championship and to get more offers. That’s the goal for me.”

You played receiver some last year but other than cornerback where all on the field might we see you line up in 2015?

“Yeah, kick return, I might do punt returns depending on who else could be back there, and more receiver, and I might line up at tailback. Those are the main positions.”

Are there any games on the upcoming schedule that you are already excited to play?

“Our first three non-conference games we play Kansas Rockhurst, we’ve been playing them for the past four years. That will be a good opener. Then we have two teams coming into Bentonville, we have Valor Christian from (Highlands Ranch) Colorado (Game 3 Broken Arrow – OK) and a school from Florida (Game 4 Rickards – Tallahassee). Those are three big games I’m excited to play. At the end of the season we always have our big rivalry game against Fayetteville (Nov. 6).”

What have you been doing in the offseason to prepare for your senior season and a chance to defend your state championship?

“At the end of the season last year I got hurt in the semi-finals of the playoffs, I broke my ankle. In the beginning of the offseason I was doing rehab and therapy. I came back towards the end of spring ball. Now I’m doing more stuff. Now I’m doing team stuff, team camps, and 7×7. Most of the offseason was me coming back.”

Where is your ankle injury at now? Would you say you’re back to 100 percent?

“I’m pretty much back. I’m not full speed yet but by the beginning of the season I most definitely will be there. I’m probably at about 90 percent right now.”

You have five really nice offers. Are there any schools showing heavy interest in you but have not offered you yet?

“Well, Arkansas and UCA. Arkansas – they were recruiting me heavily before the injury. I was expecting an offer from them but since the injury they said they want to see me after I get a couple of games under my belt. Other schools like Memphis have said that too. Most of the bigger schools that I have talked to have said that.

“Kansas State, Missouri, Navy, Nebraska, and Purdue are showing interest too.”

Has Arkansas kept in touch with you since your injury?

“With Arkansas, I believe they’re going to wait until they know that I am back and I can play. Last summer I went to their camp and I really showed out. I played the whole season and was expecting an offer by the end of the season but got hurt. It has been off and on with them.”

Are you cool with how Arkansas has handled recruiting you since your injury? Are you understanding of their position?

“It’s understandable because of course they’re not going to want to have a player or give a scholarship to a player who is not able to play. They want to make sure I can still play.”

When your time comes to choose a college what will be some of the bigger factors that influence that decision?

“The biggest influential thing to me is what type of school it is and then what the program has to offer me. Those two things are probably the biggest things to me right now.”

I know you were injured most of the offseason so you did not get to attend any camps but did you go on any unofficial visits?

“Yeah, I took an unofficial to UCO (Central Oklahoma) and I’m going to Stephen F. Austin. I might stop by UCA on the way to Texas as well.”

You mentioned earlier that you are more of a cover corner, for the readers that have not seen you play before is there a college or NFL guy that your game resembles?

“I would say more like – I’m not really sure. I’m not the type of person to get beat. I was not beaten at all last season. They caught it in front of me and I tackle them but I never got beat. I may not make a lot of picks but they’re not going to throw my way on a down where they need a first down.”

I like that. Before your injury did you play any other sports for Bentonville?

“Yeah, I also ran track.”

What events did you participate in?

“The 100, 200, 400, 4×1, and 4×4.”

That is a lot of running. What was your best event?

“The 200 meter dash.”

What was your best time in the 200?

“My sophomore year I ran a 22.4 and qualified for state.”

How did you do in state?

“I got seventh as a sophomore. I also qualified for the 400 and got seventh in state.”

That’s still very impressive. Have you had an experience in your life that has inspired you with your football career?

“Yes, the injury really opened my eyes and showed me that things can happen that you are not in control of. Through the adversity you have to decide what you want to do and how you want to do it. Once that happens you really have to make the effort to get back where you were and to get better.”

What is your favorite part about playing football?

“My favorite part of the game is probably having all the motivation on your side and all your fans hyped up. You know you have to win and you’re having a good time on the sidelines with your pals. That’s my favorite part.”

Photo credit: 247sports.com; No. 4 Tyrone Mahone
Photo credit: hudl.com; No. 4 Tyrone Mahone