MASON — Football coaches love players who can play several different roles when called upon. And why shouldn’t they? Any player who can lend a significant amount of depth and flexibility all by themselves are keepers in any sport — so much so, that the term “Swiss Army Knife” is now a common way to describe them. 

The latest area player to earn that moniker is Mason senior linebacker Slade Buell, a 6-2, 205-pound utility man extraordinaire, who is not only an all-state linebacker, but a 1,400-yard rusher as well. 

It doesn’t stop there.

Buell, who is already getting Division II collegiate attention, has also seen time at quarterback and in some defensive sets, will slide back into the Punchers’ secondary.