Cole grew up in Tarpon Springs, Florida, and attended East Lake High School.

[1][2] He was a four-year starter for the East Lake football team and was a participant in the 2014 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

[6][7][8] Running back Justice Hayes said: "Mason is a phenomenal player, he is a freshman but he doesn't play like it at all.

[11] Following the 2016 season, Cole was named to the All-Big Ten offensive second-team, by both the coaches and media.

[12] Following the 2017 season, Cole was again named to the All-Big Ten offensive second-team, by both the coaches and media.

[14] On January 27, 2018, Cole played in the 2018 Reese's Senior Bowl as part of Denver Broncos' head coach Vance Joseph's North team that lost 45–16 to Houston Texans' head coach Bill O'Brien's South team.

On March 23, 2018, Cole participated at Michigan's pro day and performed the vertical jump (27.5"), short shuttle (4.72s), and positional drills.

At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Cole was projected to be a fourth round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts.

On March 25, 2021, Cole was traded to Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft.