COLUMBUS, Ohio—Upon arriving on Ohio State’s campus in January, Austin Mack made a proclamation to J.T. Barrett.
Wiser now than he was three years ago when he himself was an early enrollee, the Buckeyes’ quarterback received Mack’s message with a healthy amount of skepticism.
Letting the new Ohio State wideout know that living up to the impressive expectations he had already set for his college career would be easier said than done, Barrett reminded Mack of just who he was aiming to replace in the Buckeyes’ lineup in the coming year.
“I asked what position he plays and he said ‘X’ receiver,” Barrett recalled of a conversation with Mack in February. “In our offense at X, you’ve got to be a Mike Thomas, you’ve got to be a dog. There’s a reason why his Twitter handle is @CantGuardMike. That wasn’t an accident, it was on purpose. So it’s one of those deals of go get a spot, because in the spring that’s when you go win a job.”
Through the Buckeyes’ first six practices of the spring, Mack is yet to have officially been named the replacement for Thomas, who could very well be the first receiver selected in this spring’s NFL draft.
But so far, the reviews have been good for the former 4-star prospect, who could just as easily be preparing for his senior prom instead of squaring off with Ohio State’s cornerbacks on a daily basis this spring.
“Austin Mack is going to play next year,” Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer said of Mack following just Ohio State’s second…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Freshman Austin Mack Can Be the Buckeyes’ Next Great Receiver
