On Thursday, May 5, 2016, Plymouth Whitemarsh seniors Luke Mascio and Nafeese Nasir were recognized for committing to play collegiate football. Photos provided courtesy of Dave Sherman/Plymouth Whitemarsh High School.
Luke Mascio, a 6-2, 235-pound tight end and defensive end, led the area with 17 sacks during his final season. A team captain, Mascio was named first team All-SOL American Conference as a defensive end and third team All-SOL American Conference as tight end. He was named first team at both positions as a junior.
Nafeese Nasir, a 5-8, 175-pound running back and defensive back, rushed for over 2,000 yards during his senior season. A team captain, he led the SOL American Conference in rushing. Nasir was named first team All-SOL American Conference at running back and second team All-SOL American Conference at defensive back as a senior. As a junior, he was named first team at both positions.
Mascio and Nasir helped lead the Colonials to an 8-3 record and a berth in the District One playoffs.
Luke Mascio – Franklin & Marshall College (Football)
Major: Political Science
Final list of colleges: Franklin & Marshall, West Chester, Ursinus, Temple
Reasons for choosing Franklin & Marshall: “When I took a trip up there and met the coaching staff, it just felt like it was the right fit for me. They had that passion to win. They were a bunch of fun guys, the coaching staff was great, and they really just made me excited to be a Diplomat.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in football at the collegiate level? “I didn’t start playing football until my freshman year of high school, so I didn’t think college football was a possibility until midway through my junior season. Coach Chang started talking to me about college, and my dad was real interested. That kind of got me thinking that it was a possibility.”
Coach Dan Chang says: “Luke wasn’t going to play football as a freshman, and we saw him during freshman orientation, and I knew him because his brother had played on the team. We convinced him to come out. He had a good freshman year, but then as a sophomore, he really started to progress and earned a starting spot by the third game. Ever since then, he was a two-way starter for us. His versatility is really something that was big for us.
“He’s a really good run blocker, but because he’s a big body and can go out and run routes, he catches the ball as well. I think we threw to the tight end this year more than we ever have since I’ve been there, and a lot of that is because of Luke. He catches everything around him, and he knows what he’s doing out there. Defensively, he was huge for us playing defensive end. He had 17 sacks, which is unbelievable. He was always around the ball and just really has a knack for playing that position. With the limited amount of experience he’s had, I think he’s just going to get so much better as he goes on to Franklin & Marshall.
“Luke is a very well-rounded kid. He’s the class president, all his peers like him. He loves taking chances, trying new things, which I think is really unique for a kid his age.”
About Luke:
Favorite food: Steak & Potatoes
Favorite movie: Radio
Favorite music: Country.
Nafeese Nasir – West Chester University (Football)
Major: Business Management
Final list of colleges: West Chester, Buffalo, UMass
Reasons for choosing West Chester: “Coach Gerald Toney definitely was a big part of my recruiting process. He really showed that he and West Chester and the coaching staff were invested in me. Another factor in me not going to my other choice – Buffalo – was the coaching change. It was total coach firing of the whole staff, and that was a key factor.”
What was the progression that led you to playing football at the collegiate level? “I always wanted to continue playing football as long as I can, as long as I’m capable, so college is definitely something that was a big part of my football career. I definitely wanted to display my talents at the college level any way I could.”
Coach Dan Chang says: “Nafeese was the primary offensive weapon for us the last two years. He’s really something special with the ball in his hands. We’ve had a lot of good running backs come through here, and people always ask me – who do you think was the best. It’s really tough to say, but he’s got to be considered in that talk, in that category with the best I’ve had since I’ve been here. He’s got the speed, he’s got great vision, and not only can he make people miss, he can run people over. He can go out and we can throw the ball to him. Overall, he’s just a great weapon to have offensively.
“As far as Nafeese as a person goes, we had it out a little bit when he was a sophomore and was younger. One of the things I always tell him and I tell people – even though all his stats were great, one of the things I’m most proud of is his maturity and his growth as a person over the last three years. If you had told me when he was a sophomore that he would be a captain and a leader for us his senior year, it would have been hard for me to believe. I was really happy with how he conducted himself around his teammates and to his coaches and the work he put in to get to where he got to. I really think he’s got so much farther to go as well. He’s going to play at West Chester next year, and I really think it’s a good fit for him. I hope that he takes advantage of this opportunity. I think he’s going to do spectacular things there.”
About Nafeese:
Favorite food: Shrimp Alfredo
Favorite movie: Step Brothers
Favorite music: Rap
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