Former Edmunds High School offensive tackle, Clemson All-American dies at 73

By DENNIS BRUNSON

dennis@theitem.com

Wayne Mass, who was a standout offensive tackle at Edmunds High School before going on to an All-American career at Clemson, has died.

Mass died on Thursday after suffering a heart attack in Durango, Colorado, according to a release from the Clemson sports information department. He was 73 years old.

Mass graduated from Edmunds in 1964 before going on to Clemson. Since freshmen weren't allowed to play on the varsity, Mass didn't get to play for the Tigers until the 1965 season. Mass started each of Clemson's 30 games at offensive tackle during the 1965, 1966 and 1967 seasons. Clemson won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship every year, making Mass one of just three offensive tackles in Clemson history to start on three ACC Championship teams. The others are Jeff Nunamacher (1986-88) and Mitch Hyatt (2015-18).

Mass earned first-team All-America honors, according to Dell Sports and was a second-team selection, according the United Press International in 1966. He was the only Clemson offensive tackle to make a major All-America team in the decade of the 1960s. He was a first-team All-ACC selection at offensive tackle in 1966 and 1967.

Mass was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.

Mass played in the East-West All-Star Game and the Hula Bowl after his senior year. On January 30, 1968, Mass was selected in the fourth round of the National Football League draft by the Chicago Bears. He was the 99th overall pick.

Mass played for the Bears organization from 1968-70, then played with the Miami Dolphins in 1971. He played for the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles in 1972 before retiring.

Overall, the 6-foot-4-inch, 240-pound Mass played 59 NFL games, starting 20 of them.

He was inducted into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.

After his playing career, Mass went into the commercial real estate business where he had a successful resume for many years before retiring to Colorado over a decade ago.

Mass was born on March 11, 1946, in Portales, New Mexico.