Mason Kaplan is the Redbirds’ reliable, high-IQ linebacker with All-Academic polish and big-play upside
In the 2025 season, Mason Kaplan started all 12 regular-season games for Illinois State and finished with 62 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, two pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, and a pair of interceptions in the playoff win at Southeastern Louisiana[1][11]. He’s a fit if your team wants a linebacker who is assignment-sound, physical enough to finish plays, and clearly trusted in big moments; the extra juice is the off-field profile too, with a 4.0 graduate GPA, MVFC All-Academic First-Team honors, and a leadership role as SAAC president[1][5][7].
