Contra Costa Times: Cal's top lineman stays put

After weighing NFL, center Mack decides to return for senior season

By Jonathan Okanes

Cal center Alex Mack figured the best-case scenario is that he could go late in the first round or early in the second round of the NFL draft. He decided the best way to reach that best-case scenario is to return to Berkeley for his senior season.

Mack, a two-time All-Pac-10 first-team selection and finalist for the Rimington Award given to the nation's top center, said Tuesday he is coming back to Cal because he still wants to be a college student and there is more left to do, both personally and as a team.

"The NFL will always be there," Mack said. "I only have one more year to play college football. I got a lot of information that sounded really good. But I know I can improve my stock. One more year can make a big difference where I go, and another year of college football will be a fun experience for me."  Mack entered his name to be reviewed by NFL personnel evaluators and said he received a lot of positive feedback. That caused him to "flip-flop back and forth a little bit." Mack said he thought long and hard about both options but decided he'd be happier returning to the Bears.

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