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WR Austin Mack (2023 Grey Cup Champion, Atlanta Falcons)

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Ohio State: After setbacks, Austin Mack ready to attack again for Buckeyes
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By

Austin Ward

Published on January 16, 2019

  • COLUMBUS — Tucked back into a corner of the Ohio State locker room on a stool, the mixed emotions were unmistakable for Austin Mack.

The junior wide receiver wanted to celebrate the accomplishments of the Buckeyes after the Rose Bowl victory. But he hadn’t taken part in the game.

Mack was excited about the future. He was also willing to admit how difficult his junior season had been.

And while he was ready for the torch to be passed his way from the three captains about to leave his unit, that also came with the realization that his last chance to play with them had already happened back in October when he broke his foot.

Eventually the bittersweet feelings will surely fade for the rising senior. And when they do, Ohio State is going to have a wideout with plenty to prove after the season where he was expected to emerge as the offense’s best all-around target instead became more notable for key dropped passes and an injury.

“Oh yeah, I mean, dealing with all that is a real big issue,” Mack said. “And I can definitely say there were a couple points when I was at my lowest. If it wasn’t for the guys around me and the support that I have, I wouldn’t be able to get through it. It’s definitely real.

“I mean, it’s been a grind. I’m just really trying to get back healthy, get my mind on the future. That’s the No. 1 thing, I was just trying to be in a supporting role for my guys, do whatever I can to be a good teammate. And that’s always going to continue into next season.”

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Austin Mack was working his way back to full strength for Ohio State ahead of the Rose Bowl. (Birm/Lettermen Row)

That campaign is already underway as Mack continues to rehab and get back to full strength with another shot to become the playmaker the Buckeyes have expected him to be since the moment he arrived on campus. Ohio State has seen enough glimpses of it to remain fully confident in his ability to be a primary weapon at wide receiver after still grabbing 26 passes for 331 yards and a touchdown before his injury last season. And there has never been any doubt about his maturity, work ethic or ability to be a leader away from the field for a group that again helped redefine the culture for the program overall.

Mack was a part of that last year, of course. But it was captains Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell and Johnnie Dixon primarily blazing the trail then, and now it’s up to Mack, Binjimen Victor and K.J. Hill to fill that leadership void — and replace all those receptions and touchdowns. And when it comes to that on-field production, all eyes will be on Mack as he shakes off the physical issue and mentally moves on from rough games like the drop-filled nightmare against TCU.

“I think he was OK with all that, but in the end, when the going is easy, it’s easy, right?” wide receiver coach Brian Hartline said. “To me, real leaders, really good players, real men handle adversity well. That’s what separates them, and I think Austin has done a really good job with that.

“I think he’s moved forward, I’m not really concerned about any kind of woes he’s had — I think he’s going to be great. Right now he’s focused on getting healthy and getting ready to attack 2019 with the right mindset.”

That battle is only just beginning as the offseason conditioning program gets rolling, with Mack looking to build on some of the workouts he was doing on the side in the buildup to the Rose Bowl. Like always, there’s no shortage of support around him, even if those seniors won’t be around Mack any longer.

There’s still Hartline. Victor and Hill are around to help set the tone. Chris Olave is emerging into a star, and newcomers Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams will arrive knowing full well what the standard is for the Buckeyes.

Mack may have been something of a forgotten man as the raucous Rose Bowl party raged around him on New Year’s Day. But soon enough, expect to see him come fighting out of that corner.

“I’m excited,” Mack said. “We’re going to keep this thing going. Those guys left a legacy that we’re going to have to continue to keep going. The greatness in the room is not going to be lowered.

“I think we’re going to really be able to take the next step.”

Austin Mack hit a couple roadblocks. But he’s back on the path and ready to make some less complicated memories for himself now.

https://lettermenrow.com/ohio-state-football/austin-mack-ohio-state-buckeyes-football-injury-drops/
 
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Six for Saturday: Buckeyes Primed For Stardom In 2019

Last year, the Buckeyes had a star emerge at quarterback as Dwayne Haskins set all kinds of Ohio State passing records. The year before, it was freshman running back JK Dobbins.

In 2016, you saw Malik Hooker, Curtis Samuel, Marshon Lattimore, Nick Bosa and I can’t even remember who else become stars.

It happens every year. New stars take over and become household names in the college football world.

This year will be no different. There is no shortage of possible new stars for Ohio State in 2019, but for our purposes we’ll keep it to just six or so names.

Austin Mack – Wide Receiver, Sr.
Austin Mack is beginning his third year as a starter, but now is the time for him to emerge as the all-around receiver he started to become before his injury last season. Mack can move the chains on third-and-eight just fine, but there is also a deep game that should come through this season, especially if he is playing Z. This is his contract year. Expect it to be very good, even while splitting reps.

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/06/six-buckeyes-primed-stardom-2019/
 
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AFTER THREE MUTED SEASONS, AUSTIN MACK HAS ONE LAST SHOT TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE FOR OHIO STATE

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Arriving at Ohio State as a consensus four-star prospect from Bishop Leurs High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Austin Mack was considered a key member of Urban Meyer's top five ranked 2016 recruiting class.

Sporting a 6-foot-2, 205 pound frame, Mack ran a 4.47 and 4.46 at Ohio State's camp and ultimately chose the Buckeyes over Michigan, Notre Dame and Tennessee.

The early enrollee immediately turned heads in spring drills – becoming the first freshman to have his black stripe removed – and with Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall and Braxton Miller no longer in the receivers room many believed Mack had the potential to carve out a meaningful role in year one.

Instead, Mack saw time only in mop up duty recording two catches for 15 yards in games Ohio State won by a combined score of 120-3 over Nebraska and Rutgers while Curtis Samuel, Noah Brown and Dontre Wilson emerged as Ohio State's top three pass catchers. In fact, 11 different wide receivers or H-backs logged more receptions than Mack for the year.

With Samuel, Brown and Wilson no longer on the roster in 2017, Mack had designs on earning a more significant role and while that indeed became the case, he posted a serviceable 24 receptions for 343 yards, good for fifth on the team in both categories.

While his numbers were just so-so, Mack did turn in some clutch moments including a six-catch, 90-yard outburst against No. 2 Penn State in Ohio State's thrilling 39-38 comeback win over the Nittany Lions.

Even with his important outing against Penn State, Mack's biggest catch of the season came as he hauled in a 27-yard toss from Dwayne Haskins on 3rd-and-13 with Ohio State trailing 20-14 in the third quarter in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes would go on to score the go-ahead touchdown a few plays later in an eventual 31-20 win.



Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...last-shot-to-play-a-major-role-for-ohio-state
 
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The WR room is solid. Lots of talent and playing at a high level right now. Making the catches they should, coming back to the ball and making plays after the catch too. Pair that with the dominant run game and they have it working. Haven't really had to unleash Fields in the run attack yet either. SCARY
 
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Austin Mack Leaning On Wide Receiver Testimony In Senior Season

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Austin Mack came into this season knowing that it would be his last opportunity to leave his mark as a Buckeye and also his last chance to show that he was ready for a professional career.

For most players, this would be the time that they would want to post their best numbers. Mack, who has posted 50 total receptions the last two seasons, only has seven catches for 72 yards in four games this season. That number is lower than anyone expected, but Mack also knows he doesn’t necessarily need statistics and numbers to leave a legacy or to have an impact on the team this season.

For instance, he graded out as a Champion in the first three games of the season. And there are plenty of plays that don’t show up in the box score, like a touchdown reception last week that was called back because of a holding call on the offensive line.

Mack may have been disappointed by the play, but he knows he doesn’t need that touchdown on his stat sheet for validation.

“It sucks, but I mean it’s on film,” Mack said. “It’s the luck of the draw, but you can’t just dwell over those moments. So you just hope for your next one to come so you can try and get your hands on the next one.”

Last year after four games, Mack had 15 receptions for 205 yards. This year, KJ Hill leads the team with 15 receptions and Binjimen Victor leads the team with 242 yards receiving. Mack already knows he can produce on the stat sheet because he did it last year, but numbers aren’t the only measurement of a player’s contributions.

While he wants to and expects to post increased numbers moving forward, Austin Mack is also relying on the examples set by other Buckeye wideouts who have come before him. He is following in their respective paths as proof that a large number of catches isn’t necessary for a successful career and a bright future.

“It’s hard not get frustrated,” Mack said. “Especially for me being a last-year-guy, you know you’re not going to come around many opportunities. But it’s to stay humble. It’s to know that Terry [McLaurin] only had 35 catches last year. To stay in your lane and know that it’s a plan and it’s a process. Trust the plan. Whatever happens just make sure I’m doing everything I can properly to be in the right spot.”

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/09/austin-mack-testimony-senior-season/
 
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From the article above this week.

Mack uses Brown’s and McLaurin’s stories to remind him that things can still work out.

“Ultimately, I’m at Ohio State so I have the platform,” he said. “It just takes a ‘Noah Brown game’ for instance. I mean it just takes one moment, one game for you to change your career because we do have that platform.”
Click to expand...

Fitting that he talked about a “Noah Brown” game then goes out and basically catches a TD on a guy’s back in the corner endzone.

Glad to see him staying the course.
 
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Mack works as hard or harder than anybody and deserves more accolades. Even when he's not being targeted he's out there blocking his ass off!

He'll get more opportunities as the season goes on and Justin continues to get more and more confident in each guy out there. I mean, Hill, Victor, Mack, Wilson and Williamson trying to emerge as well. We still haven't gotten to see Saunders yet so there's another upper classman and that's not even mentioning the TE group that's pretty damn good but getting little action so far.
 
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