Touted Freshman QB Austin Mack Joins Husky Roster Exodus

Originally posted on FanNation Husky Maven | By Dan Raley | Last updated 1/14/24

If the fallout from the University of Washington football coaching change wasn't messy enough, touted freshman quarterback Austin Mack joined the long list of players who have abandoned a once-proud program now in shambles.

His decision to leave was made public with a social-media posting on Sunday, several hours after offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb revealed he had sought the Husky head-coaching job and didn't get it.

With former UW coach Kalen DeBoer at Alabama, and Grubb presumably joining him at the SEC school, it wouldn't be wrong to think the 6-foot-6, 226-pound Mack might end up there, as well.

This past fall, Mack, just 17, didn't play in any games after reclassifying as a California high school player from Folsom High School and enrolling at the UW following his junior year, but he showed off enough of his high-end quarterback talents in practices to verify he will be a significant college player someday soon.

Entering the postseason, DeBoer and Grubb raved about Mack's talents, calling his progress "awesome."

Hearing that, Mack, made available for interviews for the first time during the Sugar Bowl, said, "It's definitely an honor to have all these coaches and teammates to expect that of me and see that potential."

With Mack's departure, the Huskies find themselves in the awkward position of having no returning scholarship quarterbacks on the roster.

Starter Michael Penix Jr. used up his eligibility at the CFP championship game in Houston, back-up Dylan Morris has transferred to James Madison, Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers re-entered the transfer portal and San Diego State transfer Will Haskell spent the season as the scout-team QB before turning to the portal once more.

The Huskies have only newly enrolled freshman Dermaricus Davis signed to a letter of intent. He's a 6-foot-4, 190-pound quarterback from Etiwanda High School in Rancho Cucamonga, California, but for how long as a Husky, who knows.

This article first appeared on FanNation Husky Maven and was syndicated with permission.

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