Pitt freshman linebacker Dan Mason found out Friday that he was going to make his first career start on Saturday against Navy.

Mason was thrust into the starting middle linebacker's role because senior Adam Gunn, the team's leading tackler, had been hampered by an ankle injury and it didn't improve during the week so he was declared out for the game.

It wouldn't have been a surprise if the moment overwhelmed Mason given that he hadn't played much at linebacker in the first two games of the season. Additionally, the Midshipmen run a triple-option flexbone and are a challenging team for defenses to try and stop.

As the middle linebacker, Mason, a Penn Hills graduate, was responsible for making all the defensive calls and getting everybody around him set before each snap.

But Mason not only survived his first game, he was the star of the show. Again, it might have been a surprise to those who don't know him, but it wasn't to those who know him -- especially his teammates and coaches.

Mason's teammates expected him to have a successful day because they have watched him grow up as a player during training camp and through the first two weeks of the season.

"He's going to be a star," said redshirt junior safety Elijah Fields. "He is one of the best teammates I've ever had already. He just knows what to do. He knows how to play, and he really just brings this intensity and gets everyone around him fired up."

Defensive end Greg Romeus added: "He didn't even act like a freshman. He went out there and took control of the huddle. He went out there and executed all the calls and never backed down from anyone. That is just who he is. We're proud of him."

Mason led the Panthers (3-0), who won the game 27-14, with 11 tackles and two sacks. Perhaps more important, he never once seemed like he was out of position or confused by anything the Midshipmen did.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said that Mason wasn't just good against Navy, he was outstanding. He said that his performance probably means there will have to be a shake-up at the linebacker spots when Gunn returns to full strength (likely with Mason in the middle and Gunn moving to the weakside).

But Wannstedt also said Mason's performance wasn't an accident because Mason is a hard worker, a student of the game and one of the most prepared players on the team.

"I love the kid," Wannstedt said. "He might be as physical and old-school of a middle linebacker as I've been around. He is something else. He is special. He is all business.

"And if you know Danny Mason, you know he is awfully serious about what we are doing here. He doesn't take anything for granted. He watches extra film. He does all the extra things that freshmen don't usually do. That was exciting to see him out there."

Beyond being in the right place and knowing his assignments, it also wasn't surprising to see Mason, who is 6 feet, 225 pounds, making big hits and impact plays because he is such a big-play kind of player.

But Mason doesn't see it that way and wasn't satisfied with his performance. He said he felt like he missed too many assignments and too many tackles to be too happy about how he played.

While he was obviously happy he contributed to a victory, he said getting a chance to play for the first time helped him realize how far he needs to go to become a dominant player at this level -- and that just makes him hungrier for more.

"This game is all about preparation," Mason said. "I did OK. I made some plays but I also made a lot of mistakes. But they are correctable so I am going to get in there and watch some film and try to correct them all. I just want to get better.

"I really want to learn. I really want to get better. I just want to be dominant on the field. I don't just want to be a guy who makes a few plays; I want to be dominant, and now I see I have a long way to go so I'm going to get to work on Monday."