Big 12 / Shaun Alexander National Freshman of the Week
Sun Devil true freshman running back Cardae Mack put together a historic performance in Arizona State’s 28-17 victory over Kansas State.
Mack finished with 26 carries for 159 yards and four touchdowns, providing all four scores for the Sun Devil offense to help secure a critical win.
In the process, Mack became the first Sun Devil freshman to record four rushing touchdowns since Leon Burton’s had five on Oct. 1, 1955, against San Diego Navy.
He is the first Power Four running back to accomplish the feat since Florida’s Jadan Baugh on Oct. 19, 2024.
He is just the seventh FBS Power Conference running back in the last decade (since the start of 2016) to reach the four-rushing touchdown milestone, joining Baugh (Florida, 2024), Evan Hull (Northwestern, 2019), Jermar Jefferson (Oregon State, 2x, 2018), AJ Dillon (Boston College, 2016), Damarea Crockett (Missouri, 2016) and Benny Snell, Jr. (Kentucky, 2016). Only four of those other games were against another Power Conference team.
He is also the first ASU running back to score four rushing touchdowns in a game since Kalen Ballage’s NCAA record-tying seven against Texas Tech on Sept. 10, 2016.
It was the first time a Sun Devil true freshman has accounted for four total touchdowns since Demario Richard had four total (two rushing, two receiving) in the 2014 Sun Bowl win over Duke.
Both Mack’s 159 yards and four rushing touchdowns were the most allowed by K-State to an individual opponent this season.
Mack’s 159 rushing yards were the most by a Sun Devil true freshman back since Keegan Herring had 197 yards against Northwestern on Sept. 17, 2005.
He had two rushing touchdowns in the first half alone, marking the second time in the last three games Mack has had two or more rushing touchdowns in a game for Arizona State.
The freshman showed he could be the workhorse back, rushing for 26 attempts today after he entered the game with only 29 attempts on the season.
Mack has 313 rushing yards in his last two home games at Mountain America Stadium with six rushing touchdowns.
Mack has now scored in three consecutive games for the Sun Devils (2 rushing vs. Hawai’i, 1 receiving at Texas Tech and four rushing today).
He became just the 17th Power Conference true freshman running back since 2016 to have multiple 150+-yard rushing games in the regular season.
That list includes current NFL running backs Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, Braelon Allen, Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, J.K. Dobbins, Justice Hill, and AJ Dillon.
Mack was the 15th-highest-graded running back in the country for the week overall (78.4), according to PFF.
He had the 7th-most yards in the country (1st among freshmen and 60 more than any other freshman).
His eight rushing first downs were the most in the conference and 9th in the country.
The 108 yards after contact were 7th in the country, while the eight missed tackles forced were fourth.
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Connor Smith
