Washington QB commit Austin Mack reclassifying to 2023, enrolling in fall
Washington got tremendous news on Tuesday.
Folsom (Calif.) 4-star quarterback Austin Mack announced he’s reclassifying from the 2024 class to the 2023 class and will enroll at UW in the fall.
It’s a massive development for coach Kalen DeBoer and his Husky program — which has received nothing but wins this offseason. When the Huskies moved through the February signing day earlier this month without signing a 2023 quarterback, it marked the second straight cycle without a quarterback. Add in the transfer of Sam Huard from UW to Cal Poly and the Huskies were looking at a quarterback depth chart for the upcoming year that featured just two scholarship throwers.
It was believed UW could look to the transfer portal for some depth. Instead, Mack told 247Sports’ Brandon Huffman DeBoer approached him about the idea of reclassifying and, after thinking it over, he decided that was the best course for his development.
Onto the next chapter… pic.twitter.com/LVZdXacdTg
— Austin Mack (@AustinMack2024) February 15, 2023
Mack chose UW on Feb. 1 from an all-Pac-12 group of finalists that also included Oregon, Oregon State, Cal, and Stanford. He’s viewed by 247Sports as the 53rd overall prospect in the 2024 cycle and one of the best quarterbacks in the country.
With Heisman hopeful Michael Penix Jr. back for 2023, he’ll sit a year before getting a chance to earn the starting job, but Mack told Huffman the opportunity to get into UW’s offensive system and learn as a backup would give him “a chance to compete for the top spot next year.”
A 6-foot-6, 210-pound quarterback, Mack has tremendous potential. He turns 17 this summer, and has only spent one season as a full-time starter at the high school level. But he was exceptional in his debut campaign.
As a first-year starter in 2022, Mack completed 70.4% of his throws for 3,498 yards and 40 touchdowns. In nearly 400 attempts, he only threw five interceptions while leading Folsom to a 12-2 record and a CIF-Sac Joaquin Section D1 Championship in California.
His reclassification also gives UW a year between him and 2024 commit EJ Caminong, a 3-star passer from Seattle (Wash.) Garfield.
It’s shaping up to be a special year for DeBoer and the Huskies.
After an 11-2 record in Year 1, Washington got back all of its NFL-eligible playmakers from the 2022 squad — including Penix and wideouts Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan. Ryan Grubb turned down a move to Alabama to remain as Washington’s offensive coordinator. And now Mack is set to join the fold to help answer depth concerns at the all-important quarterback spot.