Colorado State University Athletics
2017 Football Roster
McDonald, Max
Jersey Number 31
Max McDonald
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- 220
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Fort Collins, Colo.
- High School:
- Rocky Mountain
Bio
Career Highs:
2018 (Junior/Redshirt): Played in the season's first four games, including a start at Florida (Sept. 15) ... made six tackles (3 solo) ... was able to take a redshirt year under new NCAA rules for FBS football, by playing in four or fewer games ... was honorable mention Academic All-Colorado by the Colo. Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
High School:
Q&A from Feb. 14, 2019
On being a team leader
"It's pretty cool. I grew up here and always wanted to be a Ram since I was six or seven years old. I'm pretty excited about it. I'm an upperclassman, I'm in a position to be a leader and help the younger guys along. To show them not only how it is to learn and play and work hard, but what it is to be a Ram and embody what it is to be in Fort Collins and accept the community.
On his newly-bleached hair
"I was feeling it. New year, new spring ball, new semester, new me."
On a vivid memory from his freshman year
"It was definitely in my first season, homecoming game against Utah State and I wasn't expecting to go in that game. We were 14 or 21 (points) down and just had gotten it to seven points down and the offense had the ball. They were kicking a field goal. Our linebackers coach at the time, Coach (Marty) English, looked at our starting linebacker, looked at the backup linebacker and looked at me in the background. I had no helmet, I was chilling and he says, 'You're in.' I had to go find my helmet, had to get on the bike, had to warm up. Kevin Davis, the starting linebacker, I had him come over and I was like, 'Walk me though what's going to happen out there because I have no idea.' It was my first meaningful snap. I had gotten in a couple times before that when we were up by a lot or down by a lot. It was the first time where it was middle of the game, important time, homecoming game, it was a big game and he put me in the thick of it. It was something."
On his favorite classes at CSU
"It's kind of dorky, but I'm in computer information systems, so I like software development classes, so I have taken some cool ones in the college of business. I'd say my favorite class I've taken is probably dance. It was a freshman level class and a lot of the time you go to class, sit there for an hour and take notes. In dance, you got to be a little active, learn new things, meet people and hang out. It was a fun class."
On how this spring differs from other ones
"Just coming off the year we had, going into the spring, we have a lot to look at and correct. We're definitely being very demanding, but uplifting also and positive about it. We're excited. There's a lot of room for improvement, and that's an exciting thing when you can go look and see there's so much more you can get better at. It's a great opportunity to get out there every day and work your tail off."
On his mentality when he's on the field in a game
"It sounds cliché, but I just think about the next play. You're going to make mistakes, you're going to have mistakes, things are going to happen out of your control, refs are going to make calls you don't agree with. But you have to have the next-play mentality because if you catch yourself looking back, you can let one play affect the rest of the entire game and that's a mentality that will lose you a lot of football games."
On his pump-up songs
"I know it's cheesy, but the song "Rather Be" (by Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne). I like that one because I'm from here and I like to tell myself this is where I wanted to be for the past 18 years of my life. My favorite song in general is (Guns N' Roses') Paradise City, a rock-and-roll song. It gets me feeling some type of way."
On restaurants he likes in Fort Collins
"Tortilla Marissa's. It's on College and Drake. It's a locally owned Mexican restaurant, and I've known the owners my whole life. We go there on all our birthday occasions. Panhandler's Pizza is the other one. It's a local pizza joint. The old owners sold it to the owners of Tortilla Marissa's and they opened it next door. Family run businesses, you have to support!"
- Tackles: 9 - vs. Marshall, 2017
- TFLs: 2.0 - Marshall, 2017
- Sacks: 1.0 - Marshall, 2017
2018 (Junior/Redshirt): Played in the season's first four games, including a start at Florida (Sept. 15) ... made six tackles (3 solo) ... was able to take a redshirt year under new NCAA rules for FBS football, by playing in four or fewer games ... was honorable mention Academic All-Colorado by the Colo. Chapter of the National Football Foundation.
- Made two tackles in each of the season's first two games, vs. Hawai'i (Aug. 25) and vs. Colorado (Aug. 31).
- Made 1 solo tackle in win over Arkansas (Sept. 8).
- Started at Florida (Sept. 15) and made 1 assisted tackle.
- Recorded three tackles and a tackle for loss in the win over Abilene Christian (Sept. 9).
- Tallied four tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry at No. 1 Alabama (Sept. 16).
- In his first career start (Hawai'i, Sept. 30), recorded three solo tackles and a forced fumble.
- Recorded five tackles and one quarterback hurry in the win at Utah Stae (Oct. 7).
- Made six tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup in the win over Nevada (Oct. 14).
- Tallied four tackles, broke up a pass and recovered a fumble at Wyoming (Nov. 4).
- Recorded a career-high nine tackles and a sack against Marshall in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 16).
- Registered his first career tackle in a win over Utah State (Oct. 8).
- Recorded his first career sack in a shutout win over Fresno State (Nov. 5).
High School:
- Is a 2015 graduate of Rocky Mountain High School in Fort Collins, Colo.
- As a senior in 2014, racked up 138 total tackles, including six sacks... Registered a state-best 111 solo stops.
- His senior-year performance earned him first-team All-Colorado honors by the Denver Post... Named second-team All-Colorado by CHSAA.
- Selected as the 2014 Front Range Defensive Player of the Year, and was a three-time All-Front Range selection.
- In 2014, the Lobos went 9-2 and advanced to the second round of the 5A Colorado state playoffs.
- As a junior in 2013, registered 109 tackles and two interceptions.
- In his first varsity season (2012) rushed the ball 81 times for 318 yards and five touchdowns... Also tallied 52 tackles.
- Captain of the Lobos football team as a junior and senior.
- Also lettered in track & field and basketball at Rocky Mountain.
- Excelled in track & field, winning the Front Range League championship in the shotput.
- Owns the Rocky Mountain power clean record (320).
- Named first-team Academic All-Colorado as a junior and senior.
- Head football coach was Mark Brook.
Q&A from Feb. 14, 2019
On being a team leader
"It's pretty cool. I grew up here and always wanted to be a Ram since I was six or seven years old. I'm pretty excited about it. I'm an upperclassman, I'm in a position to be a leader and help the younger guys along. To show them not only how it is to learn and play and work hard, but what it is to be a Ram and embody what it is to be in Fort Collins and accept the community.
On his newly-bleached hair
"I was feeling it. New year, new spring ball, new semester, new me."
On a vivid memory from his freshman year
"It was definitely in my first season, homecoming game against Utah State and I wasn't expecting to go in that game. We were 14 or 21 (points) down and just had gotten it to seven points down and the offense had the ball. They were kicking a field goal. Our linebackers coach at the time, Coach (Marty) English, looked at our starting linebacker, looked at the backup linebacker and looked at me in the background. I had no helmet, I was chilling and he says, 'You're in.' I had to go find my helmet, had to get on the bike, had to warm up. Kevin Davis, the starting linebacker, I had him come over and I was like, 'Walk me though what's going to happen out there because I have no idea.' It was my first meaningful snap. I had gotten in a couple times before that when we were up by a lot or down by a lot. It was the first time where it was middle of the game, important time, homecoming game, it was a big game and he put me in the thick of it. It was something."
On his favorite classes at CSU
"It's kind of dorky, but I'm in computer information systems, so I like software development classes, so I have taken some cool ones in the college of business. I'd say my favorite class I've taken is probably dance. It was a freshman level class and a lot of the time you go to class, sit there for an hour and take notes. In dance, you got to be a little active, learn new things, meet people and hang out. It was a fun class."
On how this spring differs from other ones
"Just coming off the year we had, going into the spring, we have a lot to look at and correct. We're definitely being very demanding, but uplifting also and positive about it. We're excited. There's a lot of room for improvement, and that's an exciting thing when you can go look and see there's so much more you can get better at. It's a great opportunity to get out there every day and work your tail off."
On his mentality when he's on the field in a game
"It sounds cliché, but I just think about the next play. You're going to make mistakes, you're going to have mistakes, things are going to happen out of your control, refs are going to make calls you don't agree with. But you have to have the next-play mentality because if you catch yourself looking back, you can let one play affect the rest of the entire game and that's a mentality that will lose you a lot of football games."
On his pump-up songs
"I know it's cheesy, but the song "Rather Be" (by Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne). I like that one because I'm from here and I like to tell myself this is where I wanted to be for the past 18 years of my life. My favorite song in general is (Guns N' Roses') Paradise City, a rock-and-roll song. It gets me feeling some type of way."
On restaurants he likes in Fort Collins
"Tortilla Marissa's. It's on College and Drake. It's a locally owned Mexican restaurant, and I've known the owners my whole life. We go there on all our birthday occasions. Panhandler's Pizza is the other one. It's a local pizza joint. The old owners sold it to the owners of Tortilla Marissa's and they opened it next door. Family run businesses, you have to support!"
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