Skip to main content

Maxx Crosby Reminisces High School Football Career On Julian Edelman's Podcast

Lawrence Andrew Fernandezby:Lawrence Fernandez•01/08/25•

lawandfern

Maxx Crosby
© Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Maxx Crosby recalled his high school football days in his recent appearance on Julian Edelman’s ‘Games with Names’ podcast. The Las Vegas Raiders defensive end mainly discussed the larger-than-life atmosphere of Texas football games.

Crosby was shocked at how invested residents at the Lone Star State are in high school football. It’s nothing he experienced when he was still living in Michigan. The four-time NFL Pro Bowler shared with Edelman:

“I moved to Texas, and it was like holy (expletive). I played 6A, like the highest division, 15,000 in the crowd packed out. The whole parking lot was tailgating, and it was crazy. I mean, the environment was like nothing I’ve ever seen and I end up going to Eastern Michigan and we had less fans. My first two years, we had less fans in my college games.”

Crosby’s description is valid, given the Texas high school football stadiums that could rival those of small colleges. The size of these structures translates to expensive construction costs, as discussed in this video by Front Office Sports. Likewise, they play state championship games at AT&T Stadium, the 80,000-seater home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Maxx Crosby played high school football for the Colleyville Heritage Panthers. He played seven games in his junior year (2013) and finished with 41 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery. Those numbers earned him Second-Team All-District honors. Meanwhile, his team went 7-3 before a season-ending loss to the Ryan Raiders in the Class 5A Division 2 bi-district round.

Crosby had 62 tackles, six sacks, five passes defended, and two fumble recoveries the following year (2014). That impressive stat line made him an All-Area and All-District selection. However, the Panthers ended their season at 5-6 after losing to the Cedar Hill Longhorns in the bi-district phase.

Despite his accolades, only Eastern Michigan offered him a college football scholarship, which he accepted. He became a two-time First Team All-Mid-American Conference member, enough to convince the Raiders to select him in 2019.

Las Vegas’ gamble on Maxx Crosby paid off as he became a two-time Second-Team All-Pro member. However, while he’s already playing at packed NFL stadiums, he will never forget his experiences in Texas high school football.