College football player dies after battle with brain cancer

Hunter Mason, a college football player at Western Illinois, had been battling an aggressive brain cancer.

The college football community is mourning the loss of Hunter Mason, a former Western Illinois defensive lineman, who died of brain cancer at the age of 22.

Mason died at his home in Missouri and had been receiving treatment for glioblastoma, a fast-moving and aggressive form of brain cancer.

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— Western Illinois Football (@WIUFootball) June 1, 2022

“The loss of Hunter is tragic and heartbreaking,” WIU Football Strength and Conditioning Coach Jon Minnis said in a statement. 

“For those who were fortunate enough to know Hunter, he was an incredible young man with an infectiously positive personality. We are extremely proud of Hunter and devastated by his passing.”

Mason played in 29 games for the Leathernecks since 2018, starting 15 games and 11 during the most recent 2021 football season.

In his career, Mason tallied 56 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, nine sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He received All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Honorable Mention as a linebacker.

Mason graduated from WIU in 3 years as an Honors Scholar with High Academic Distinction, Summa Cum Laude, with an undergraduate degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration. 

Pursuing a Master’s degree in Sport Management last year, Mason was a three-time MVFC Honor Roll selection, a two-time MVFC All-Academic Honorable Mention, and a two-time MVFC Commissioner’s Excellence List of Academic Excellence award winner.

(Western Illinois Football)

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