B/R Exclusive: 4-Star WR Austin Mack Breaks Down His Top 8

Austin Mack is entering the final stretch of a frenzied recruitment with eight college programs still in the mix.

The 4-star Indiana wide receiver revealed his list of favorites Monday morning, setting the stage for a June 7 announcement ceremony:

Mack, a 6'2", 205-pound playmaker from Bishop Luers High School, is rated 20th nationally among receivers in 247Sports' composite rankings. He caught 69 passes for 1,062 yards and 15 touchdowns last fall as a junior.

"I'm an all-around wide receiver who commits to the little things," Mack said. "I'm smart enough to memorize playbooks quickly and execute my assignments, whether I'm blocking downfield or running crisp routes. For a high school player, I'm polished. You can put me anywhere on offense, and I can contribute on special teams. I believe I'm ready to compete in college."

So where will he land at the next level?

"I haven't decided yet," Mack said. "Everyone on that list still has a chance."

Bleacher Report recently caught up with the coveted pass-catcher to discuss each of his eight options. 

Alabama

The first of three SEC schools included on Mack's list made a strong impression during his campus visit in late March, when the Crimson Tide formally extended a scholarship offer. As usual, much of the appeal in Tuscaloosa starts with head coach Nick Saban.

"Sitting down with Saban and talking about your future with him is crazy," Mack said. "It's almost like being a little kid and meeting your favorite football player. I've grown up watching him coach on TV, and he's very respected throughout the country. It was really awesome to hear from Saban that I earned a scholarship to play for him."

The three-time national champion has assembled five straight top-rated recruiting classes. A crowded depth chart still seems appealing for Mack based on what he understands about the team's offensive needs.

"Surprisingly, even though they have a lot of talent on the team, there's actually an opportunity to compete early at wide receiver," he said. "Alabama is Alabama. There's nothing else quite like it."

Michigan

The Wolverines would love to pair Mack with 4-star Indiana passer Brandon Peters, who became the new regime's first 2016 commit in April. The two have an established relationship that could continue to develop in college.

"Brandon is actually one of my boys, and he's not too far from me here in our home state," Mack said. "We talk all the time, and now, he's really trying to recruit me."

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has hosted him on campus twice since March. Like many Wolverines target on the recruiting trail, Mack admits he's intrigued by the new era in Ann Arbor. 

"Jim Harbaugh, as a person, is great. He's all about what Michigan stands for as far as character," Mack said. "His staff is very impressive, and they're all NFL-caliber guys. The thing that's special with them is I love the coaches."

North Carolina

UNC is the only East Coast college program to make the cut on this list. Mack traveled to Chapel Hill earlier in the process and is compelled by the Tar Heels attack.

"That offense is dynamic," he said. "They get the ball in the hands of their playmakers a lot, and that's exactly what you look for as a wide receiver."

Mack also enjoyed the environment that would await him as a student.

"It's a beautiful school and there's a lot to like about the area," he said. "They also made it a point to really talk about the academics at North Carolina, and that stood out to me. It's definitely a university I'm seriously considering."

Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish are in the mix for several receivers from across the country in this cycle. Mack is an in-state product who fits the bill for what head coach Brian Kelly looks for at the position.

Dating back to 2011, Notre Dame has signed the top-ranked Indiana prospect each year. Mack, who currently rates second on that list, now enters the crosshairs in South Bend.

"The tradition there is crazy, and its atmosphere is totally different than any other campus," Mack said. "They're all about being prestigious with both football and academics. That's huge for a person like me who really cares about education."

Ohio State

The Buckeyes are viewed as a favorite in this race, based on 20 expert predictions in 247Sports' Crystal Ball. Ohio State is expected to sign Mack in 90 percent of projections.

"The Ohio State coaching staff has definitely been recruiting me hardest," he said. "They were actually the first really big school to offer me, and they've been hitting me up almost daily since before last signing day when a lot of teams were focused on 2015 guys. That made a big impact."

This longstanding recruitment has resulted in multiple trips to Columbus, including the unique experience of attending Ohio State's national championship celebration in The Horseshoe.

"Columbus is buzzing right now, and there's a lot of energy in that town after the championship," Mack said. "There's nothing like Buckeyes fans. They are absolutely crazy. It's a great place to be."

Tennessee

Knoxville is expected to be the final stop in Mack's pre-commitment travel itinerary. He was in town last weekend, getting an up-close look at how Tennessee operates.

"It was a great experience to go down there, spend time with the coaches in person, and see what they had to offer," Mack said. "The football atmosphere is great and I like what the school offers academically. It was a good trip."

Volunteers quarterback commit Jarrett Guarantano was a driving force in convincing Mack to check out Tennessee. He remains in full-on recruiter mode less than three weeks away from the receiver's decision.

"Oh yeah, Jarrett's still talking to me about Tennessee," Mack said. "More than ever."

Wisconsin

Mack has an interesting personal connection to the Badgers coaching staff. His wide receivers coach, Dre Muhammad, previously played for Wisconsin wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore when both men were with the Oakland Raiders.

"I know what to expect from his coaching and understand how he can help me develop at the next level," Mack said.

He is a big fan of how the Badgers attack defenses and sees a fit for him within the offensive scheme.

"It's a pro-style offense with a really strong run game that opens things up for receivers," Mack said. "You get an opportunity for a lot of one-on-one matchups against defensive coverages. From a business standpoint, playing football at Wisconsin wouldn't be a bad idea at all."

Vanderbilt

The Commodores present another opportunity for Mack to compete in the SEC. Vanderbilt is his second potential landing spot in Tennessee.

"I'm really high on their coaching staff. They might be the most intense college coaches I've met during this recruiting process," he said. "I really enjoy talking with (head coach) Derek Mason and his assistants."

Mack has made education a top priority throughout his search for the right fit. He gives Vanderbilt high marks in that spectrum.

"Academically, they're one of the more prestigious schools," Mack said. "The chance to play in the SEC with those kind of academics is huge." 

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.