Arizona State freshman running back Cardae Mack isn’t sure how exactly he will feel when he wakes up on October 5.
That day will be the first anniversary of the sudden loss of his father, Nathan, who died from a hemorrhagic stroke.
“Sometimes, it's hard to wake up,” Mack said. “But at the end of the day, I still think about my mom and what she's been through. His one year is coming up, so I don't really know how I'm technically fully doing.
“I feel like I've gotten a lot better with handling the situation and not being so worried about my family back home, because I feel our brothers have it handled better.”
The loss of his father has weighed heavily on Mack.
He was looking forward to his dad watching him score touchdowns — something he’s been doing since Cardae earned the nickname “Allday” after scoring 13 of them once during a legendary youth football game — in a Sun Devil uniform.
“It impacted me heavy,” Mack said. “My dad was everything. He taught me everything I knew, and for me to lose him, it did hurt.”
Mack again reiterated that sometimes, even the simplest things are hard for him.
“There are days where I wake up, and I just don't feel like doing it, but at the same time, I got to do it, because this is what he would want me to do,” Mack said.
Mack, who is from Houston, is the youngest of eight siblings. His mother, Camilia, has held on to her youngest the tightest — she didn’t want him to enroll early at ASU — but Nathan’s passing strengthened their bond.
She also acts as his agent and has signed off on Name, Image and Likeness deals, the new reality of college football in 2026.
“My mom has just been my rock and holding me tight, why I come out here and do what I do,” Mack said. “My mom and I do everything together. Everything we have formulated is through her.”
Mack, one of the early enrollees for the Sun Devils this season, has been one of the true freshmen to earn the praise of coach Kenny Dillingham and the rest of the staff through spring and fall camp.
His time spent at quarterback at Atascocita High School (where he combined for 3,500 total yards and 52 touchdowns as a senior) has sped up his development at running back. Mack spent the past two years learning the game from a quarterback's perspective, which has given him an overview of the offense and each person’s assignment.
“It really helps at running back, just being able to recognize blitzes and pick up on the plays,” Mack said.
Mack has shown the vision and burst in Tempe that made him a four-star prospect. He’s made a handful of plays throughout both camps and has been getting steady reps mixed in with the starters.
Most of all, Mack’s acumen has stood out. Another running back, junior David Avit, singled out Mack for his football IQ during a spring football practice.
When football is done, Mack hopes to become a neurologist.
“He’s been awesome,” Dillingham said. “He’s such a great kid. Care level is super high. Great personality. He’s super intelligent. You just see him more comfortable with the speed of the game. The speed of the game is so much higher. I think he’s caught up to the speed of the game.”
ASU plans to deploy a running-back-by-committee in the 2026 season, which has been wanted for in the past to little avail. The room is deep, with Mack, Kyson Brown, Jason Brown, Demarius Robinson, Grayson Ridgon, Marquis Gillis and Avit all vying for snaps.
Mack is hoping to play a significant role in that room.
All signs point toward the freshman doing so.
“As a true freshman, for a running back, that’s a big weight to carry,” offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said. “He’s done an awesome job. He’s got the power, burst, the confidence, the balance. His ability to contact and stay on his feet is huge. When you’ve got a true freshman getting good reps, you’ve got a guy on your hands that you can really lean into. He’s going to be special.”
Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at logan.stanley@usatodayco.com or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State running back carrying late father with him