Buffalo’s Khalil Mack Drawing First Round Hype

Aug 31, 2013; Columbus, OH, USA; Buffalo Bulls linebacker Khalil Mack (46) breaks away from Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Jeff Heuerman (86) at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 40-20. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

Heading into the 2013 season, Buffalo rush linebacker Khalil Mack had 18 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, and an absolutely astounding 56 tackles for loss already on his resume’.

To start off the 2013 season, Buffalo played a nationally televised game against Ohio State, and Mack came up huge. Against the Buckeyes, Mack totaled nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and an interception returned 46 yards for a touchdown.

His performance got him a ton of hype as a potential first round pick, and assuming he avoids injury, he should very well be.

Mack is an athletic freak with speed and power, and you have to wonder how he wound up at Buffalo or if he has really just grown into this kind of player over his four years there. He’s ranked 23rd on NFL Draft Scout’s latest Big Board, and he impressed a national audience against a top five team last week.

If Mack can stay consistent throughout the rest of the year, I think we’ll see him just explode onto the draft scene at the end of the season. Buffalo might not be in a BCS bowl, but they certainly have a guy who could play on any of those BCS teams. Mack is 6’3″ 248 pounds, and he can move. This is a prospect that is really on the rise.