'Absolutely a risk': Inside Mac Markway's unlikely August transfer from LSU to Nebraska (2024)

Mac Markway and his parents walked in anonymity as they toured the Nebraska campus on a warm mid-August day. Even a 6-foot-4, 258-pound former top football prospect can blend in when he wants to.

This was new for the family that had been navigating the recruiting process since before Markway played a game in high school. Michigan offered the tight end his first scholarship in eighth grade. He had taken upwards of 40 visits — official or otherwise — sifting through roughly 30 suitors before committing to LSU in March 2022.

This time? No red carpet. No football facilities or coaches. Just a stroll with regular prospective students deciding whether to enroll in classes.

“Mac has been going through this a long time,” said Matt Markway, his father. “We did not want to go in the portal and do all these visits. We kind of wanted to simplify it.”

The Markways did — and Nebraska landed a former national blue-chipper in one of the unlikeliest ways possible.

Husker coaches received the shock of camp Monday — the first day of UNL classes — when the big-bodied playmaker walked into the Osborne Legacy Complex unannounced and asked if he could walk on. A quick background check revealed Markway had participated in five practices with LSU before leaving Aug. 5. The St. Louis native previously held offers from a list of college football bluebloods including Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Oregon.

“Since I found out he was here I’ve researched him a little bit,” NU offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Marcus Satterfield said Tuesday. “He’s a good player. Got a chance to do some things for us as everything starts to take place. Just showed up at school and here he is.”

“I was shocked,” coach Matt Rhule said Thursday. “It’s an unbelievable surprise.”

Why the secrecy?

The family — with help from sports agent Mike McCartney — came to believe it is the only way Markway could make a school change in August while retaining his eligibility for the 2024 season. The player never technically entered the transfer portal, instead transferring as any normal student might. He wasn’t ever recruited by Nebraska or in touch with its current staff until he arrived Monday asking for a chance.

There was no guarantee the Huskers would say yes.

“We talked about how in business there’s risk you take,” Matt Markway said. “It was a growing-up experience for Mac going through that. It was absolutely a risk but we knew we had to follow rules and not talk to anybody. It was a very unique experience and he’s very, very excited to play for the Cornhuskers.”

Markway has no prior ties to his new school or coaches — “Not a thing,” the elder Markway said. The family on its own identified six tight end-heavy offenses within a seven-hour drive of St. Louis, all in the Big Ten or SEC, and did their research. Nebraska was one of a “couple” schools at which Mac Markway registered in admissions in case he chose to attend.

The Markways loved Lincoln and the relative proximity to family and friends. They loved that Nebraska last year finished second in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game. They loved what they read about Rhule and physical practices and freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola.

“They’re on the rise — there’s no doubt they’re on the rise,” Matt Markway said of the Huskers. “I’ve been around football a long time and you can kind of see from afar that a program is starting to go. Mac is excited to be part of that. I think people there will love the way he plays.”

Mac Markway — whose given name is McCain — is the latest in a family of tight ends. Matt played the position at Iowa in the late 1990s. Mac’s uncle, the late Steve Wisniewski, did the same at Ohio State around the same time. His cousin, Kyle, finished his college career at South Carolina in 2019.

The Black Friday tilt with the Hawkeyes suddenly takes on a different meaning too.

“It’s gonna be awkward,” Matt said. “I don’t think some fans there were happy when, him being an Iowa legacy, he went to LSU instead of Iowa. I don’t think this is going to go over great either. But I’m excited for that game.”

Mac Markway broke onto the St. Louis prep scene as a freshman, earning a reputation as a devastating blocker as De Smet High School won a state title. An abbreviated 2020 pandemic season followed before a left knee injury kept him off the field as a junior and senior.

Major programs still pursued the composite top-250 recruit in the 2023 cycle. Markway committed to Florida in July 2021, flipping to LSU the following spring after a Gators regime change. He enrolled early and played in 12 games as a true freshman with the Tigers, starting once at Mississippi State and catching three passes for 16 yards and a touchdown.

Matt Markway said his son left Baton Route when he did because the timing “was just right for our family” and for reasons both football-related and personal. LSU junior tight end Mason Taylor remains one of the stars of the Tiger offense, though Markway was in the mix as next man up.

“Mac wanted to get back to his roots: the Big Ten and his family,” Matt said. “He wanted to play; he didn’t want to sit out.”

What that looks like for Markway at Nebraska this season remains unknown. The Huskers like their tight end group led by juniors Thomas Fidone and Nate Boerkircher along with Luke Lindenmeyer. Touted true freshman Carter Nelson has a long-term future at tight end but is beginning at receiver.

Rhule said on-boarding a player less than a week before a game isn’t unlike how new acquisitions get up to speed quickly in the NFL. Markway could in theory appear in four regular-season games and still have three years of eligibility remaining.

It all started with a transition unorthodox even in the transfer era.

“Mac didn’t need to be pampered or sold,” Matt Markway said. “We just wanted to do it the old-school way. I think it’s cool and made Mac a stronger person.”