Austin Mack is ready to prove himself in his senior season

“But Mack’s career numbers — 52 catches for 689 yards and three touchdowns — are surprisingly modest. His goal this season is simple.”

-Bill Rabinowitz, Columbus Dispatch

Austin Mack was ready to prove himself last year as one of the elite pass catchers in the Big Ten. After logging 24 catches for 343 yards and two touchdowns his sophomore season and not quite having the season he wanted, Mack was ready to step in as a junior with his roommate Dwayne Haskins taking the full time snaps. They even called their connection “7-11” obviously playing on their respective numbers.

However, through eight games Mack only had 26 catches for 331 yards and one touchdown. Then against Purdue, in the game that all Ohio State fans wanted to forget immediately, Mack was injured.

In the defense of Mack last season, the Ohio State receiving unit was loaded and Haskins had many options including including in Parris Campbell, Johnnie Dixon and Terry McLaurin. With those three plus Mack, KJ Hill, Binjimen Victor and two great running backs that need their touches, it is tough to spread the ball out and get everyone the necessary touches they deserve.

Now with Campbell, Dixon and McLaurin gone, It is time for Austin Mack to step up and be the guy for new quarterback Justin Fields and new head coach Ryan Day. Mack has had moments where he looked like a WR1, and he will have every opportunity this coming season as he is high up on the depth chart and fully healthy.

“Noting the continuity and the job Chris Holtmann has been doing, the Buckeyes are looking good going into the summer.”

-Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated

The 2018-19 Ohio State college basketball season was an up and down ride, but they reached the NCAA Tournament and secured an upset victory over Iowa State in the first round. Now with the season over and a champion crowned (congrats, Virginia) it is time for the Buckeyes and the whole college basketball world to look ahead to the 2019-20 season.

The Bucks are in a good spot, bringing in the top recruiting class in the Big Ten and losing only Keyshawn Woods and C.J. Jackson. Some early predictions have them ranked as high as in the top 10 in the country—and that would be with still a fairly younger roster. There is a big decision looming over Kaleb Wesson, but even if he does end up testing the waters and declaring for the draft, it is highly likely that he will return to school as one of the best players in the conference.

Another question will be other additions this offseason. With the transfer of Jaedon LeDee, Chris Holtmann and staff have two scholarships open to fill. With the decision of 7-footer Ibrahima Diallo coming hopefully very soon, they could add him and one graduate transfer. But if Diallo ends up choosing Pitt, it will be interesting to see if they decide to go after two graduate transfers.

“He wouldn’t even get evaluated until late November. “It was obvious,” Bosa says. “There was no chance.”

-Kevin Van Valkenburg, ESPN.com

After Nick Bosa was injured against TCU in the Buckeyes third game of the season, there was immediate concern for the future. Some fans thought that was the end of his collegiate career while others thought he would only miss one or two games. This was more of an optimistic response in hopes of him returning and helping Ohio State pursue a national championship.

Then once Bosa announced that he would not be returning to the Ohio State Football team and was leaving school to train for the NFL draft, he was met with a varied response from Buckeye fans and college football fans alike. Some fans thought he was begin smart and closing it up to prepare and not risk further injury, while some called it quitting on the team and not being there for the team as a captain.

Now as it seems after his interview with ESPN, it was never even an option that he was going to return. In the interview, he mentions that he “I love Coach Meyer, but I think his mind was on winning a national championship.” This line makes it seem like Urban Meyer was either in denial about the injury or was just keeping the option open just in case he returned back.

He also brings up an interesting point about social media and how his injury was construed on the internet from people on the outside. This quote from Bosa especially brings it into light. Bosa said “Some of the media put it out there that I’d be back in a few weeks, It’s funny how people would even fathom that.”

This all seems like no one really knew the severity of the injury until Bosa came out and said that he was done including his head coach, but it does go to show that until all the facts are on the table, it is tough to truly understand what is going on.

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