Being in the middle can mean a lot of things. For Cardae Mack, it meant growing up between siblings, learning to compete early, and figuring out how to stand out without always being the loudest in the room.
But on the field, there’s no mistaking who’s at the center of it all.
Now a senior at Atascocita and a recent Arizona State-commit, Mack has become one of the state’s most complete and compelling individuals to put on a helmet. And while this fall will likely see him return to his natural position at running back, it was his all-around play last season – including a stint as a mobile quarterback – that showed just how adaptable and indispensable he can be.
“It all comes down to my family,” Mack said. “I’d always play with my brothers growing up, but I didn’t really get into it until around middle school, when I began to compete in select ball. At some point, I realized how good I was at the sport, so I locked myself in from there.”
That switch flipped hard. In 2024, Mack threw for nearly 1,900 yards and 18 touchdowns with just three interceptions – all while rushing for an additional 1,918 yards and 22 scores. His dual-threat dominance earned him District 23-6A MVP honors and carried the Eagles to a 12-2 finish, with their season ending in a fourth-round playoff loss to district rival North Shore.
But even in defeat, there’s perspective – and motivation.
“We won’t forget how it’s felt the past few years,” Mack said. “But I think a distinction we might have this season is the fact that we’ve already integrated the underclassmen into our gameplan. Our younger guys are going to be more developed and experienced. That could become one of our biggest advantages moving forward.”
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Mack’s leadership is grounded not just in talent, but in intention. It’s visible in the way he talks about his family’s influence, especially the work ethic he’s seen modeled by his parents.
“Someday, I intend to put them and myself in a good position, so they’ll never have to work again,” he said.
That same maturity showed up in his decision to commit to Arizona State in April, where he felt both seen and strategically valued.
“Coach [Kenny] Dillingham is an offensive genius, and Coach [Marcus] Arroyo is completely bought-in,” said Mack. “There’s already a plan in place of how they intend to utilize me in their schemes. That really compelled me to invest myself in that process.”
When it comes to who he emulates, Mack doesn’t hesitate: LeSean McCoy. It’s a fitting match for a back known for his shiftiness, vision, and creativity in the open field.
“He was my favorite back to watch growing up… even to this day I’ll still watch his highlights – sometimes before games,” Mack said. “The elusive running style he had is something that I see in myself.”
In a program that’s come close year after year, Mack enters his final season as the type of player who can tip the balance. He might have started in the middle, but now, all eyes are on him to lead.