4-Star WR Austin Mack High on Ohio State: 'Columbus Is Buzzing Right Now'

Indiana wide receiver Austin Mack is just a month away from announcing his collegiate intentions, entering the final stretch of a frenzied recruitment that involves more than 30 programs.

The 4-star Bishop Luers High School standout will reveal his choice June 7 at the Redefining Athletic Standards Football Camp in Fort Wayne. Mack maintains he's still unsure about the decision and is weighing several options as the days dwindle.

"I'm evaluating each school based on a lot of different aspects," Mack said. "It's not just about emotions or about the football program, but more about how attending the university will impact the rest of my life. In this last month, I plan on talking with all the coaches, and hopefully, I'll make a decision before my announcement day comes."

Mack is among the most coveted offensive commodities in the 2016 recruiting cycle. He's seen his scholarship offer total double since the end of last season.

This outpouring of interest has resulted in an incredibly busy spring.

"I've been on the road just about every weekend these past couple months," he said. "It's been tiring at times, and I've missed out on some stuff back home, but it's what I needed to do."

The 6'2", 205-pound playmaker has spent time at many of the country's premier college campuses in recent weeks. This loaded itinerary included trips to Ohio State and Michigan.

Fellow Indiana prospect Brandon Peters, a 4-star quarterback who became the first 2016 prospect to personally commit to new Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh, has helped Michigan gain momentum. 

"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."

His experiences in Ann Arbor proved fortuitous, as he built a rapport with Harbaugh and assistants.

"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."

His last trip to the university included dinner out with Harbaugh. The head coach called a timeout during the meal to have Mack show off his three-point stance at the restaurant. 

"I don't think I'd ever done a three-point stance in my life," Mack said, while laughing. "Harbaugh told me it was pretty awful."

Like many recruits who've landed on the radar for this Wolverines regime, Mack is compelled by the possibility of future success under new leadership.

"I'm very interested to see what Michigan does this year because if they have a strong season, their recruiting will be back to what it was in the past and a lot of great players will go there," he said.

Mack is among a collection of prospects who finds himself caught in the middle of a tug of war between the Wolverines and Big Ten Conference rival Ohio State Buckeyes. He's visited the Buckeyes various times and admits the environment is rather unique these days.

"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."

He was actually in the stadium earlier this year when Ohio State celebrated its national title game victory.

Paul Vernon/Associated Press

Urban Meyer made Mack a top priority much earlier than many top suitors. That initial diligence could pay off June 7 if the Buckeyes land their man.

"The Ohio State coaching staff has definitely been recruiting me hardest," Mack 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."

Like Harbaugh, Meyer has won Mack over when it comes to establishing a meaningful relationship.

"Coach Meyer is a heck of a guy," Mack said. "He takes care of his players and knows exactly what it takes to compete for titles in college football."

Nick Saban is the only current FBS coach who can measure up to Meyer in terms of championship clout. Mack felt a bit starstruck during a late March visit to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he received an offer.

"Sitting down with Saban and talking about your future with him is crazy," he 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."

Though the offer arrived later than most, Mack immediately put the Alabama Crimson Tide into consideration as a potential landing spot.

"Alabama is Alabama. There's nothing else quite like it," he said. "Surprisingly, even though they have a lot of talent on the team, there's actually an opportunity to compete early at wide receiver. The culture is great down there, and the players are respectful because of how Saban runs that team."

His recent journeys also took him to Notre Dame, where Mack gained a greater understanding of how the Fighting Irish operate.

"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."

Mack, who plans to pursue a career in pediatrics, is adamant about finding an ideal blend of academic and athletic resources in college.

He has one more campus visit to check off his list before reaching a decision: Tennessee.

Mack will head to Knoxville on May 16 for the final assessment in a series of collegiate explorations.

"It's a huge visit for me. Tennessee is actually one of my dream schools," he said. "It seems like a wonderful place, so I want to experience that, meet [wide receivers] coach [Zach] Azzanni in person and get a feel for how things are run down there."

Volunteers quarterback commit Jarrett Guarantano has done his best to hype up Tennessee during discussions with Mack. The two became close on the camp circuit and could potentially team up for years to come.

"Jarrett has been on me a lot about Tennessee, and I promised him I'd go visit before I commit," Mack said. "I want to see what Jarrett saw at Tennessee that he didn't see at Ohio State or some of the other schools he was looking closely at. That's part of what has me really interested."

Credit: 247Sports

If it seems like Mack is juggling an abundance of options with just weeks remaining in his recruitment, it's because that's the reality. Unlike most recruits, he's opted not to unveil a list of favorites in advance of his announcement.

"I don't believe in having a list because I don't think it makes much sense to shut teams out," Mack said. "I try to take the most respectful route by giving every school that offered me a chance. I'm leaving things open until that day I commit."

Mack is projected to sign with Ohio State by 85 percent of expert predictions in 247Sports' Crystal Ball. Notre Dame and Michigan round things out with 10 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

He aims to enroll early in college, but that outcome isn't a certainty at this stage. This fall, Mack will look to build off a junior campaign that included 69 receptions for 1,062 yards and 15 touchdowns.

"I'm an all-around wide receiver who commits to the little things," he 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."

All quotes obtained firsthand by Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Tyler Donohue.

Recruit ratings courtesy of 247Sports.