The Emergence of Austin Mack

Perhaps one of the most exciting things from this season has been the emergence of undrafted rookie free agent Austin Mack.

The 6-foot-2-inch receiver out of Ohio State signed with the Giants shortly after the conclusion of the 2020 draft. In his time with the Buckeyes, he tallied 79 catches, 1050 yards, and six touchdowns over 32 games.

After being added to the Giants practice squad, Mack made the most of his opportunities and eventually saw himself get called up to the active roster. After three relatively quiet games, this game against Washington serves as his breakout performance, a game in which he can look to build on.

When asked about Mack’s performance, head coach Joe Judge raved about the receiver’s desire to get better and overall positive attitude.

“The thing about Austin is, this guy gets better every day, and he’s been that way since day one,” Judge said. “He’s always looking for extra work, he’s the guy who leaves the field last.

“He’s always got a smile on his face.”

This type of play coming from an undrafted free agent receiver is sure to make Giants fans at least a bit nostalgic as they recall the days of Victor Cruz, and remember how exciting his rise to superstardom was.

It’s only one game, but it’s something Giants fans can pay attention to as the season wears on. Mack is a player the fans of Big Blue can keep an eye on as the team looks to turn around their season, and possibly steal a division crown.

While this game from Mack was encouraging to see, the wide receiver room for the Giants is quickly becoming very crowded.

Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard are sure to get snaps, and with Golden Tate III coming back into the fold, things could get cramped. In addition to those three, the Giants have CJ Board and newcomer Dante Pettis who are sure to compete for playing time as well.

If Mack wants to build on his success, he must continue to capitalize on the opportunities he gets moving forward, something that coach Judge says he has consistently done thus far.

“But simply put, I think he’s a guy that, you know, he hasn’t wasted any opportunities,” Judge said.

Featured Image: Patrick Semansky/AP Photo