During his time as a head coach, Colorado’s Deion Sanders has often shown a willingness to promote from within and give a hard-working coach a chance.
This offseason, Johnnie Mack was one of the latest to earn a promotion.
When Marshall Faulk, the Buffs’ running backs coach in 2025, left CU for the head coaching job at Southern, Sanders turned to Mack.
“Oh man, itap a favor from God, man,” Mack, an analyst for CU in 2025, said after Tuesday’s practice. “I’m excited to be here. I had the opportunity last year when Coach Prime gave me the opportunity to come here and work under coach Faulk. Itap just an amazing opportunity for me.”
Sanders and Faulk are both Pro Football Hall of Famers, so Mack said he absorbed as much as he could learn last year.
“Just working under coach Faulk, itap just been a blessing in disguise to learn from him, sit back and soak up all the knowledge that he blessed with me and prepared me for this opportunity,” Mack said.
Mack got his start in the college ranks at SMU, where he was an intern for the Mustangs’ strength and conditioning program. One of the players at the time was Deion Sanders Jr.
Since then, Mack has had stops at East Carolina, North Texas, Houston Christian and Hawai’i. The former Texas Tech player also coached high school football in Florida and Texas.
“I’ve been working for a long time to get this opportunity,” he said. “I always felt like I was ready, but it was always God’s timing. Coach Faulk, learning under him and then he getting the opportunity (at Southern), Coach Prime just gave me that call. It was God-sent. I’m excited about it, and I know I’m ready, I know I’m prepared for it.”
In his new role with the Buffs, Mack gets to coach the running backs in a new offense. The Buffs brought in coordinator Brennan Marion, who is installing his Go-Go attack, a run-heavy scheme that will emphasize Mack’s players.
“Man, as a running back, I told my guys, if you’re not excited for this, I don’t know what else to tell you, man, because this Go-Go offense is built for running backs,” Mack said. “Itap built for running backs to have success.
“You get the opportunity to have multiple guys out there. Giving these guys multiple opportunities. Itap just the excitement of utilizing them in so many different ways, from catching the ball out the backfield to running the ball. Just being used and being able to utilize all of the ability that we have. I’m definitely excited to be involved.”
Itap a diverse running back room, too.
Alabama transfer Richard Young is 5-foot-11, 210 pounds, while Sacramento State transfer Damian Henderson II is 6-2, 205. Both are big, power backs, but Mack said Henderson also “has some finesse to him.”
Micah Welch, CU’s leading rusher last year, is 5-9, 215, and described by Mack as a “bowling ball,” as he’s got some power in a smaller body.
JaQuail Smith, who transferred in from Sacramento State is a 5-11, 170-pound “home run hitter” with breakaway speed, while 5-9, 165-pound senior DeKalon Taylor can do a little of everything.
All of them figure to get the ball at some point, and Mack is eager to work with the group, as he has high expectations.
“Explosive plays. I think (fans) should definitely expect that,” Mack said. “Our guys have been working their tails off all offseason. I think pound for pound we’re probably some of the strongest guys in the weight room (on the team).
“If I’m a fan right now, be excited about what we’re going to do. We’re going to utilize our strengths all across the board.”
