A receiver couldn't pick a better roommate than a quarterback. Of Haskins, Mack said, "That's my guy." Mack and Haskins, both members of the 2016 recruiting class, have developed chemistry on and off the field, and it showed Saturday as the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes routed Oregon State 77-31 in the season opener at Ohio Stadium.
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Mack caught five passes for 69 yards. In his first start, Haskins completed 22 of 30 passes for 313 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. He completed passes to seven different receivers, and four players caught touchdown passes. In short, it was the best first start by a quarterback in Ohio State history, and he was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week.
The wide receivers played a big part in Haskins’ performance.
“We have a lot of weapons in the receiving room,” Mack said. “The fact that Dwayne has a tremendous arm and is able to hit us in our breaks when we need to the ball and is able to lead us when he needs to and just run our offense clean, it’s super fun. I know you all saw it last weekend, so hopefully we continue to get better and keep doing it.”
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Mack has developed a knack for making the tough catches in front of defenders, something he showed against Oregon State and especially last year at Michigan when he held onto a pass from Haskins after a hard hit to convert a key 3rd-and-13. The promise of impact at the end of the catch doesn’t deter him. He makes sure he knows where he’s at on the field, reads the defense and braces for the contact.
“The biggest thing is just having eye control and catching the ball,” Mack said. “Once you catch the ball, hopefully you can get more yards. Just be able to see the catch and go from there.”
Mack ranked second on the team in catches in the opener behind K.J. Hill (six receptions for 82 yards). Terry McLaurin also had a big day with four catches for 121 yards, including two touchdowns. Parris Campbell caught four passes for 22 yards.
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Johnnie Dixon had one catch for 10 yards. Binjimen Victor, another of the top returning receivers, didn’t catch a pass. With a deep group of receivers, that’s going to happen this season. Acting head coach Ryan Day doesn’t think the players will mind.
“I think sometimes as receivers, you can get selfish,” Day said. “I don’t think that’s a selfish group. They pull for each other, and they know that if we are playing fast and we are playing depth they need each other, so it does say a lot about that group.”
Mack doesn’t expect any special favors from his roommate.
“We’ve got too many weapons,” Mack said. “I’m not selfish. I want everyone to touch the rock.”
SATURDAY’S GAME
Rutgers at Ohio State, 3:30 p.m., Big Ten Network, 1410
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