Will Mashburn grew up just like any athlete, picking up his chosen sport from an early age. He fell in love with soccer, and was driven to keep playing from the time he was little.  

“As I got older, I realized what it took to be not good, but be great, so I always kind of shot for that,” Mashburn said in an interview with Joe. 

Growing up in Cumming, Georgia, Mashburn committed to Division II Erskine College while he was in high school, where he continued doing what he loved.  

In his freshman year, Mashburn started in 16 out of 17 games for the Flying Fleet, recording one assist and one shot on goal.  

But in August of 2023, Mashburn’s life was turned upside down. 

He received a life-changing leukemia diagnosis. 

Everything changed in an instant. He admitted his initial reaction incited a little bit of panic, but he tried to shift gears into forward progress.  

“There was a lot of ‘What do I need to do?’ and kind of ‘What happens now?” Mashburn said, explaining his reaction after the diagnosis.  

From there, Mashburn began treatment, having his first round of chemotherapy in September of 2023.  

Mashburn explained that the treatment process was difficult. He said he was given a lot of timelines, and was often met with the word ‘no’. But eventually, he turned that into a yes 

He explained that he participated in outpatient chemo, and would go to the gym and work his lower body wearing his chemo pump, because it allowed him to feel normal. He said that his team of doctors were surprised at how well he was recovering.  

Mashburn completed his last round of treatment in January of 2024. 

“Once I got released, I just wanted to start training again,” Mashburn said, “It was just what I enjoyed so it was a huge motivating factor for me.” 

Coming back to Montevallo, he got straight back to work and jumped right into practice. 

“I just wanted to be normal again, I wanted to be around the guys and live up to expectations that I knew I had to meet,” Mashburn said.  

Mashburn knows that his story has the opportunity to inspire those around him to push forward in times of hardship. 

“When people see my story, I want people to know that the mind is a lot stronger than you think,” Mashburn said. 

In 2024, Mashburn was named to the GSC Preseason Watchlist, as it would be his first full season as a Falcon after transferring out of Erskine College following his freshman year.  

He played in 13 games, recording one assist on Oct. 25 against Union University and one shot on goal on Sept. 27 against Trevecca Nazarene University. 

At the 2024-2025 Freddie Awards, the annual student-athlete award ceremony held in April, Mashburn received the Comeback Athlete of the Year Award, voted on by members of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. 

So far, the 2025 season has been even better for Mashburn. The Falcons opened their season on the road at Francis Marion University on Sep. 4, and Mashburn notched his first collegiate goal, an equalizer in the final seconds of the match. 

Mashburn hopes those who learn his story can add valuable meaning to their life, knowing that they can get through just about anything if he was able to make it through what he went through. 

“Through perseverance, mental fortitude, anything is possible,” said Mashburn.   

There are seven chances to catch Mashburn and the rest of the Falcons in action at Varsity Field this fall, with home conference play beginning on Oct. 5 against West Alabama.