Ohio State didn’t just lose a game in West Lafayette last season, they also lost starting wide receiver Austin Mack to a broken bone in his left foot.
It was the fifth metatarsal, to be exact, which is the outermost bone in the foot. To label it a “pinky toe injury” would be underselling the severity and the pain.
Mack now has a metal rod in his foot that will stay there forever, which his body has to get used to. There is still some soreness here and there, but everything is essentially back to normal for the senior receiver.
In fact, there was a hope that he would have been ready for the Rose Bowl last January, but he didn’t quite make it. He was running and working out by the middle of January, however, and took part in spring ball for the Buckeyes with no issues.
He may not have been able to practice last season, but that didn’t keep Mack from working in the weight room with strength coach Mickey Marotti and building up his strength and increasing his frame. It was all done in preparation for his senior season, which is something that he can’t wait for.
“Man, just be hungry and be able to make the impact I should have for the last couple of years,” he said of his expectations this season. “Obviously, the injury was a disappointment to me but now it’s time to make a difference and be the player I should have been the past couple years.”
Most players will tell you the mental aspect of dealing with injuries is more difficult than the physical aspect. Mack is no different.
“Shoot the last part of the season for me was definitely tough,” he said. “Watching the games on TV at home and not being out there with the guys was definitely, definitely hard for me.”
With Mack healthy this spring — and the Buckeyes losing their two Z receivers from last season in Terry McLaurin and Johnnie Dixon — receivers coach Brian Hartline moved Mack from X to Z in an effort to get the Buckeyes’ three best receivers — Mack, Binjimen Victor, and KJ Hill — on the field together.
This was Mack’s fourth spring camp, so it was a good time to get him acclimated to the Z position because he didn’t really need anymore work at X.
According to Hartline, Mack did just fine in his new role.
“He’s great. Smart,” Hartline said. “He’s able to make that transition because, in the end, I need to get the best three guys on the field at all times. So to have Ben and Austin in the same position, that doesn’t help anybody. So moving Austin over there, get three guys, three seniors on the field and play ball is good.”
When Mack was lost for the season last year, he was Ohio State’s third-leading receiver with 26 receptions, and his 331 yards receiving were fourth on the team.
He was a big part of the offense before his injury and he has been motivated since then to return to the field and contribute the way he knows he can.
“I’m mentally hungry,” he said. “Physically I’m a lot stronger. I mean, I was in the weight room with Mick constantly, so now I’m physically ready and mentally ready to get after it and make an impact.”
With Olave and Wilson biting as pups…I could see the two of them along with Hill being our 3 best WRs. Regardless of whether Mack and Victor are in our top 3 WRs, they should be able to provide some good veteran depth…so there is a viable role for them either way. I just find it hard to see a scenario where Olave and Wilson aren’t in our top 3.