Receiver Mack ready to impress at Pitt after streaky first season
helping it happen.
And he also heaped praise on Indiana coach Tom Allen, presumably for signing off on Mack’s transfer, though Narduzzi didn’t want to get into the details of how this additioncame to be.
“We were approaching it that he was gonna not be with us,” Sherman said. “That’s the way you got to go, because it’s out of our hands.
Mack wasn’t a focal point for Indiana last year, but broke out toward the end of the season, finishing with 23 catches for 310 yards and three scores. He frequently worked with Pitt’s starting offense in the spring, and all offseason, he had been monitoring other cases around the country of transfers regaining their 2018 eligibility, such as two receivers at Florida earlier this month.
“I was always told to be ready, so you never have to get ready when the opportunity comes,” Mack said Friday alongside Narduzzi before practice.
Mack originally committed to Rutgers while playing at Grand Street Campus High School in Brooklyn, later received an offer from Penn State and eventually flipped his decision to Indiana.
But his first college season turned out to be a turbulent one for the Hoosiers. Coach Kevin Wilson resigned amid turmoil Dec. 1, 2016, and there were reports that he mistreated players, including one who claimed he was made to play through an injury. But after redshirting that year, Mack had three games with six or more receptions last season, including a 132-yard breakout with one touchdown in the season finale at Purdue.
In December, Pitt announced the signing of Mack, an abrupt move that wasn’t even preceded by news of Mack requesting a release from his scholarship or choosing to leave Indiana. His ties to the Pitt staff are multiple, as offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and quality control assistant James Patton were both withthe Hoosiers until 2016.
Allen, Indiana’s secondyear coach, was also part of that staff and “really helped out the situation,” according to Narduzzi.
“When you talk about caring for kids, my hat goes off to that guy for doing the right thing and helping out something ... ,” Narduzzi said, then stopped. “We’re not gonna get into specifics about why, what; it doesn’t matter.”
What does matter is what Mack will add to the Panthers offense as they try to spring back from a 5-7 record. Though he started eight games at Indiana but also went catch-less in six, Sherman firmly replied “there’s no question” that he performed as well as any Pitt wideout in spring ball for sophomore starting quarterback Kenny Pickett.
“Him and Kenny had a great timing in the passing game, and he’s done a great job of playing fast,” Sherman said. “When it comes down to making a play, he’s been able to be that guy.”
Mack hasn’t been working with Pitt’s first-team offense in preseason camp, but that could change as soon as Saturday for an intrasquad scrimmage. Dontavius Butler-Jenkins and Shocky Jacques-Louis have been favorites of coaches so far, but could Mack be the missing piece on the outside of Pitt’s passing game?
“Timewill tell,” Narduzzi said. “We’re not gonna anoint anybody, any starting jobs. He’s got a lot of work to do. It’s another weapon. It makes us a little bit different. If we go back to what he was in spring ball, and just look at where he was there, he was really our go-to guy, so we expect to get to that here in the next couple weeks.”
For Mack, the relief he feels now was palpable. He had been text-messaging and emailing Narduzzi about transfer waivers being granted elsewhere, often finding that news even before the head coach. As Narduzzi put it, the team “erupted a little bit” when they found out Thursday night that Mack is goodto go.
“They always remind me every day, all you need is a little bit of hope,” Mack said.