SALT LAKE CITY — If you ask Mason Woodward, former BYU and NFL linebacker Bryan Kehl has been a tremendous friend and mentor over the last 12 years.
Not only did Kehl inspire Woodward in his desires to serve a two-year mission, marry his sweetheart in a Latter-day Saint temple and play college football, but both were adopted. Kehl was a pillar of support as Woodward recently connected with his biological parents.
Kehl’s only fault as a mentor came in Woodward’s college football career — his “little bro” wound up wearing University of Utah crimson instead of BYU blue.
“It all worked out except for the Utah thing,” Kehl said, shaking his shaved head with a big grin. “Yeah, he went to the wrong school, but I can’t fault him for that. There’s always forgiveness.”
Woodward knows his buddy will be watching closely when the Cougars host the Utes in LaVell Edwards Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 29.
“He’s pretty humble about it,” Woodward said. “He knows they haven’t won against us for a while.”
Their friendship was born in 2007 when Kehl spoke at a Latter-day Saint fireside in West Point, Woodward’s hometown. Afterward, Kehl was introduced to Woodward and they bonded through their common backgrounds and interests. The pair exchanged phone numbers and promised to stay in touch. Woodward is still identified in Kehl’s cellphone under the same name he typed in that day — “Little bro.”
“I showed him my phone and told him ‘Here you go, there’s my little brother,’” Kehl said. “I saw a lot of myself in him.”
Three years later in 2010, Kehl was a member of the New York Giants and had a game in Minnesota. Unbeknownst to Kehl, Woodward was there with his father, Roger Woodward, to see Kehl and another favorite player, running back Adrian Peterson. As Kehl was leaving the field during pregame warmups, he stopped to sign an autograph and noticed Woodward sitting nearby. Kehl invited his “little bro” to meet him after the game, where Woodward witnessed a special reunion between Kehl and his biological father, Maurice Turner, according to the Deseret News in 2011.
Needless to say, Woodward admired Kehl greatly and vowed to follow his friend’s simple formula for a happy life. As he neared graduation at Syracuse High School, his five-year plan looked like this: serve a mission, marry a “hot wife” in the temple and play football at BYU.
After graduation, Woodward was offered a football scholarship to Southern Utah University but opted first to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was called to the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission.
Woodward never wavered in his decision to serve a mission, but the experience was more difficult than he expected. In addition to homesickness, he battled some anxiety and physical illness. He was robbed a few times. He also dearly missed his high school girlfriend and future wife Noelle Bybee, especially when she became a contestant on season eight of “The Voice.”
While Woodward knew their relationship was solid, he also knew Bybee had a celebrity crush on singer David Archuleta and feared she might meet him and fall in love while Woodward was away.
But Woodward pressed on and learned to trust in the Lord, he said.
“The mission really tested me and taught me to rely on God,” Woodward said. “It was an amazing experience and I loved it.”
To Woodward’s delight, Bybee waited. He expected a wedding would soon follow his return but she surprised him with the news that now she wanted to be a missionary.
Bybee then departed on an 18-month mission in Wichita, Kansas, giving Woodard a turn to wait, which he did.
“That was hard, really hard,” Woodward said. “I think that waiting for her helped me almost more than my own mission. It taught me a lot of patience.”
The couple were at last married in the Newport Beach California Temple in 2018.
But things didn’t go as planned in football.
Woodward declined the scholarship at SUU because he wanted to go to BYU. But as he looked into becoming a Cougar, the situation “didn’t feel right,” he said.
Woodward sought advice from Kehl, who, of course, wanted him at BYU. Kehl encouraged his “little bro” to follow his inner compass.
“If it’s not in the cards, it’s not in the cards,” Kehl said. “One of my sayings about life is, ‘Let’s see where the yellow brick road is taking us.’ We make choices and sometimes we end up in places we didn’t expect. I think that would be accurate for Mason at Utah. That’s where the yellow brick road took him and I’m happy for him, I cheer for him, but that’s about it. Good luck to you, just not your team.”
After visiting with Utah’s coaches, Woodward became a walk-on at the University of Utah. He used 2016 as a redshirt year; played on special teams in four games in 2017 and recorded one tackle against West Virginia in the First Responder Bowl; and last year he saw action in 11 games. Academically, Woodward also received honorable mention honors with the 2018 Pac-12 all-academic squad.
Now going into his senior year, Woodward hopes to build on what he’s accomplished and help his team however he can. And he’ll be doing that with a scholarship.
Unbeknownst to Woodward, his wife showed up at practice on Aug. 17, disguised as a trainer. As the trainers were being introduced, Noelle revealed her true identity and excitedly announced Mason Woodward had earned a scholarship. His teammates cheered, swarmed with congratulations and sprayed him with Gatorade.
“I just want to say thank you,” Woodward said in a University of Utah video that captured the moment. “You guys that know me know how hard I work. I truly appreciate this. This is what I came here to do. Let’s go win it.”
Woodward has zero regrets about playing for Utah.
“It just felt really good,” Woodward said of his decision to come to Utah. “It’s been a fun and good experience with the friends I’ve made. The coaches have been awesome. They have taught me a ton.”
Woodward has also been curious about his true family roots.
Around 2016, Woodward was able to obtain the name of his biological mother and found her using Facebook. Her name was Samantha Esplin and she lived with her Latter-day Saint family in Pocatello, Idaho. Woodward asked Kehl to assist him in reaching out to her, which he did.
Initially, Esplin was “freaked out” by the idea of meeting Woodward. Outside of her husband, who she told before they were married, and a few family members, nobody knew about that period of her life. She worried about how her children and others might react.
“It’s always been private and sensitive subject. I hadn’t told anybody,” Esplin said. “When I tell my kids this, they’re not going to trust me. It was really hard for me to tell them.”
While continuing to text back and forth with Woodward for nearly a year, she put off telling her four children. With encouragement and support from her husband, Clay, she told each child individually. Much to her relief, the children accepted the news with understanding and compassion, Esplin said.
A short time later, the Woodwards traveled to Pocatello for a special meeting. All involved agreed the timing was right and what unfolded between the families was emotional and beautiful, Esplin said.
“Things fell into place,” Esplin said. “Seeing how he has such a wonderful family and life, that just kind of made it all worth it. I realized everything was OK. This is the way it was supposed to be. He’s turned out to be such an amazing young man. I couldn’t ask for anything else.”
Since then, the Woodwards and Esplins have shared a close association. The Esplins attended Mason and Noelle’s wedding in California. Samantha Esplin was honored when Mason Woodward’s mother, Cindy Woodward, invited her to sit next to her in the temple’s sealing room. The two women share a special bond, almost like long-lost sisters, Esplin said.
“That was pretty special,” Esplin said.
While becoming acquainted with the Esplins, Samantha Esplin told Mason Woodward about his biological father and the circumstances of his birth. After attending Utah State University for a few years, the 21-year-old Esplin decided to take a break from school and moved to Salt Lake City with her sister. It was during this time that she met his father and became pregnant. Her family helped her decide to place the baby for adoption, although she wanted him to be in a Latter-day Saint home.
Woodward has met his biological father. As they become more acquainted, Woodward hopes to learn more about his family heritage.
Reflecting on his life, Woodward acknowledged evidence of the Lord’s hand from his adoption at birth to the present time. It’s been a journey full of miracles and blessings, he said.
“I just don’t believe in coincidences anymore,” Woodward said. “It has just been amazing.”
Woodward will also continue to look up to Kehl, regardless of the Utah-BYU rivalry’s outcome.
“He’s been like a distant big brother. We don’t see each other very often but when we do it’s always super powerful. He’s taught me so much, given me so much advice and helped me through hard times,” Woodward said. “He’s even been supportive of me coming here (to the University of Utah).”
The feeling is mutual, said Kehl, who marveled at the thought of Woodward’s overall growth since they met 12 years ago. While he has always wanted to give back to friends and supportive fans, he’s always had a special place in his heart for Mason Woodward.
“If I was any sort of positive influence, that’s great. But I don’t think he needed me. He’s a stud,” Kehl said. “Both of us have been very blessed because not every adoption goes the way ours have. We couldn’t have asked for better situations so that was fortunate. The Lord’s fingerprints are just everywhere. You just have to look for it and it’s amazing to see.”
