By Ed Piper
Max Smith, the 5'10", 182-pounder, has evolved in the first three weeks of the 2018 football season from a prolific tackler on La Jolla's defense to a multi-purpose player doing whatever head coach Tyler Roach thinks will make the Vikings a better team.
In water polo, Coach Tom Atwell would use the term "utility" for a similar player.
For an infielder in baseball, in Coach Gary Frank's usage, such a team member would be called, likewise, a utility player--a contributor at multiple positions.
After Smith barreled his way up the middle to a touchdown, leaving multiple potential tacklers from La Jolla Country Day in his wake in the Vikings' 40-7 win Aug. 24, his father Joe, taking photos on the sideline, nodded knowingly and said, "He wanted to accomplish certain things as a running back."
This is a new role, that of Max being the team's Swiss Army knife. From only being asked to be the squad's long snapper last year in the season opener against Hilltop, when he was a freshman, the veteran of youth football soon became a star on defense.
The apex numerically came in a 56-26 win against Serra Oct. 20, when he piled up 18 tackles, 14 of those solo. In the team's final game, a 63-14 playoff loss to Santa Fe Christian Nov. 17, he came back for 12 more tackles.
Having a chance in only eight of La Jolla's 12 games, Smith still led the team in tackles, with 74. The only others close to him were seniors, Tucker Jacobs and Johnathan O'Neal, with 58 and 57 tackles, respectively.
The powerful linebacker also received credit for 8.0 tackles for a loss (TFL) to lead the Vikings. The only player close to Smith was Jacobs, at 6.0. No one else had more than 2.0 TFL for the 2017 season.
Now, as someone commented Aug. 31 at the Santa Fe Christian game, Smith hardly comes off the field, between playing his trademark defense at linebacker, running the ball on offense, and providing special teams coverage on kicks and punts.
Like Diego Solis, it is apparent he relishes the physical contact.
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