Mason Tomblin - Football Coach - Iowa State University Athletics

Mason Tomblin

Title:
Graduate Assistant/Defense
Email:
mtomblin@iastate.edu
Phone:
515-294-6721

Mason Tomblin spent four seasons on the Iowa State staff, serving as director of college scouting for the defense in his final season in 2024. He was a graduate assistant working for the Iowa State defense from 2021-23.

The defensive unit was one of the nation's very best during his tenure with the Cyclones.

In 2024, Iowa State recorded the best season in school history, reaching double-digit victories for the first time. The Cyclones finished 11-3 overall, reached the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game and won the Pop-Tarts Bowl with a thrilling 42-41 victory over No. 15 Miami.

The Cyclone defense allowed just 22.9 points per contest despite battling significant injuries on that side of the ball in 2024. ISU gave up fewer than 20 points in six games, tied for the second-most among Big 12 teams. Seven Cyclone defenders were recognized on the All-Big 12 teams during the record-setting season.

The 2023 team reached the AutoZone Liberty Bowl with a defense that was among the top three in the Big 12 Conference in scoring defense (22.8, third), total defense (363.2, second) and rushing defense (134.2, second). The unit was 20th nationally in pass efficiency defense (119.93), while having the sixth-best red zone defense (73.2) in the country.

Gerry Vaughn earned All-Big 12 honorable mention honors out of the linebacker room, while true freshman Jack Sadowsky started all 13 games and earned honorable mention honors in the vote for defensive freshman of the year. The third starter in the group, Will McLaughlin, finished the season with a pair of interceptions and a team-high matching 7.0 tackles for a loss.

In 2022, the Cyclone defense led the Big 12 in scoring defense (20.2), total defense (285.6), rushing defense (107.3) and passing defense (178.2), becoming just the third team in conference history to lead in all four categories in the same season.

Will McDonald IV set the school record and tied the Big 12 career record with 34.0 sacks, including 16.5 the last two seasons. McDonald was a three-time First Team All-Big 12 pick and earned All-America honors.

In 2021, The Cyclone defense was second in the Big 12 and ninth nationally in total defense at 310.5, only allowing two teams to amass 350 yards of offense en route to the school’s lowest total defensive output since 1984.

ISU also equaled its season record for sacks (33) and ranked ninth in the nation in passing defense (187.8) to earn a trip to the Cheez-It Bowl.

A native of Wooster, Ohio, Tomblin was a graduate assistant at Ohio in 2020 working with the linebackers.

Tomblin was an assistant football coach at Ohio Wesleyan from 2018-19, working with the defensive line, and was a graduate student intern at Miami University (Ohio) in 2017, assisting with the quarterbacks and various other duties.

A 2017 graduate of Ohio Wesleyan, Tomblin was a four-year letterwinner as a linebacker. The three-time scholar-athlete and team captain was an Honorable Mention All-NCAC selection.

Coaching Experience
2024 - Iowa State - Director of College Scouting/Defense
2021-23 - Iowa State – Graduate Assistant
2020 - Ohio – Graduate Assistant
2018-19 - Ohio Wesleyan – Defensive Line
2017 - Miami (OH) – Graduate Student Intern