Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 24-45vs UCLA | 4 | 58 | 14.5 | 1 | 26 | Season-high 58 yds |
| Wk 2 | W 21-18@ Syracuse | 2 | 38 | 19.0 | 0 | 38 | |
| Total | 6 | 96 | 16.8 | 1 | 38 |
#85
Mason Mini
Redshirt junior tight end for California. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′4″ · 245 lb · Pacifica, CA · Terra Nova
CFB Index 61 · #39 of 156 TEsMedium-low confidenceReturning to California for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
96
receiving yards · 2026
6 catches · 1 TD · 16 per catch
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 4 rec, 58 yds, 1 TD, vs UCLA
The play that turned itSwung California from 34% to 87% to win.California at Boston College · 28-24
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 tight end for California. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Transferred from Idaho to California in 2025.
Mason Mini
Shows up in the passing game from any alignment. Mason Mini has been at California through two head coaches in two seasons. The receipt on tape: 58 rec yds, 4 receptions against UCLA, Week 1, 2026.
96 REC YDS · 6 REC · 1 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
The week the volume broke through — stacked 1 td at Oregon State.Oregon State · W 34-152025
202510 games
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
California
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2025–2026
2 coaches2025
California
2026era →
Tosh Lupoi
California
Coaching transition mid-career: Justin Wilcox → Tosh Lupoi. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2025California7-6HC: Justin Wilcox · Pass-leaning
2026California1-1HC: Tosh Lupoi · Pass-leaning
Where this profile ranks vs the TE cohort
Box-score percentiles
Medium-low confidence
Elite: yards / catch (86th percentile). Strength: long catch (86th percentile). Concern: receptions (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 3.0 REC/g, 48.0 YDS/g, 16.8 YPR, 0.5 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Tosh Lupoi
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
2026 outlook
In the mix for All-ACC
Based on 2025: #7 of 22 ACC TEs
How the All-ACC estimate is computed
35% estimated, 95% confidence interval 31–38%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | California | 6 | 96 | 16.0 | 1 | -- |
| 2025 | California | 35 | 387 | 11.1 | 4 | -- |
| Career | 41 | 483 | 11.8 | 5 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 21–18
at Syracuse
2 rec · 38 yds
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 3 on the road.
With A. Davies — 34 AVG · 3 IN 20 · 52 LONG · J. Sagapolutele — 182 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · QBR 54.4 · -5 rush yds (2 car)
Game log
How he plays
Play style
No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
California
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Tight end · California
Returning around him
- 58% of 2024 offensive production back (Solid continuity)
- 1 California player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -4 net (32 in / 36 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
California · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #33 · 2026 recruiting class #56
DNA match
Player DNA
Complete TE
No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike.
TE
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Blake Whiteheart’s 2022 season.
84%match
Matches Blake on
Total EPA (college ability)
EPA / play (adj)
Yards / reception
Differs from Blake on
Reception volume (higher)
Class year (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Patrick Overmyer's freshman season at UTSA (2024).
82%match
Matches Patrick on
Total EPA (college ability)
Weight
TD rate
Player DNA
Players who play like Mason Mini
Background
Accolades - Athletic Shriners Children's East-West Bowl 1000 (2026) Accolades - Academic 2025 ACC All-Academic 2025 ACC Academic Honor Roll 2024 Big Sky All-Academic Redshirt Sophomore (2025) - Cal Appeared in 11 games and made nine starts. Finished the season with 35 receptions for 387 yards and...
The tight end room · California
- Dorian Thomas560 receiving yards · 2025
- #85Mason Mini387 receiving yards · 2025
- #8Rico Walker100 receiving yards · 2025
- #39Michael Cooleyno box-score line yet
- #90Jack Olyphantno box-score line yet
3 more on the roster · California team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology