NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Maxwell Football Club announced Wednesday that Vanderbilt football's Mason Lewis has been named a semifinalist for the 2026 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, presented to the outstanding freshman player in college football.
A native of Queens Creek, Arizona, Lewis has seen action in every game this season and registered 35 tackles, tallied five pass breakups and one quarterback hit.
A unanimous three-star prospect, Lewis has a 79.3 defensive grade, which ranks 10th among all NCAA FBS true freshmen according to Pro Football Focus. He also has an 84.1 coverage grade, which is third among FBS freshmen with a minimum of 100 snaps and leads all SEC freshmen.
Lewis’ highest mark came in the Commodores’ contest at Auburn when he posted an 86.4 coverage grade. In Vandy’s win over NC State, Lewis made a team-high-tying eight tackles.
Lewis and the Dores return to action on Saturday, visiting Mississippi State. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. with the game airing on SEC Network.