Jerry Scott - 16_Mason, Chauncey.JPG

Arkansas State's Chauncey Mason, the brother of former Auburn running back Tre Mason, is redshirting in 2016. (Arkansas State athletics)

Chauncey Mason was on Auburn's radar.

Being the younger brother of Tre Mason, the program's all-time single-season rushing record has its perks.

A combination of Auburn already having lined up commitments at running back and wide receiver in its 2015 recruiting class and the younger Mason not having the same skill set as his brother left him searching for other opportunities.

"We were aware of him," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "We didn't really (go) hard after him as a recruit. He's a very good player but we didn't actively (recruit him)."

Chauncey Mason changed high schools for his senior season and rushed for 1,005 yards and had 450 receiving yards at Boynton Beach Community High School. He eventually committed to Arkansas State over offers from Syracuse and Southern Miss more than a month after National Signing Day in mid-March 2015.

"We had our team by that point," Auburn running backs coach Tim Horton said.

Last season, Chauncey Mason played in six games as a true freshman for the Red Wolves, appearing mostly on special teams.

He is redshirting this fall before trying to make his own "legacy" with the Red Wolves, who visit Auburn at 6:30 p.m. tonight.

"I'm looking forward to my team doing big things this year," Chauncey Mason said. "I decided to redshirt this year to keep on working on my game and be able to get a year back to do what I have to do."

As a redshirt, Mason would likely not be on the travel squad but as of Wednesday he was considering making the trip to Auburn on his own.

"It's a possibility I will travel to support my team," he said, "and also be in that atmosphere where my brother used to play because Auburn, they're still a family. I just got a new family over here."

As for his actual family, Chauncey said he keeps in touch with Tre "every day" in what has been a tumultuous off-season for the former Tigers tailback, who reportedly had a bench warrant issued for his arrest after failing to appearing for a court date this week.

"(I) let him know how much I love him every day and I'm going to support him whatever he decides to do," Chauncey Mason said. "Right now, it's his career so it's whatever (he wants) to do with it he's going to do."