When he did play, Max had a cartoonish Baby Huey quality about him. Players would bounce off him under the basket—and Max would get called for fouls, though in most cases he just stood there grabbing rebounds. By the end of the season, Max had moved up into the Red Raiders’ top seven rotation, coming up with a few big games.
As another football season approaches, that Max who wore the silly grin and this Max are different. This Max bears a scowl that looks like he is ready to tear off someone’s head. This Max is ready to bounce anyone in his way, and not by accident. This Max is considered Pennsylvania’s best junior and among the nation’s top offensive linemen.
The worst place on a football field this fall will be anywhere in front of or near this “Monster Max.”
Hiller enters this season with a rather massive chip on his shoulder, as does the collective Coatesville team, which hosts traditional Central League powerhouse Garnet Valley in the season opener Friday at 7 p.m. at Coatesville. The Red Raiders finished a very disappointing, and uncharacteristic 5-5 overall last season, knocked out of the first round of the PIAA District 1 Class 6A playoffs by eventual District 1 champion and PIAA Class 6A state semifinalist Downingtown West, 28-21. The Red Raiders have been knocked out in the first round of the district playoffs the last three seasons.
Hiller will move inside this season, from tackle to left guard, opposite right guard 6-4, 350-pound junior guard CJ Miller, with 5-6, 195-pound Santino Galarza at center. Defensively, Max will be disruptive at tackle.
Hiller, who looks sleek for 310, has narrowed his collegiate list to a final eight that currently includes Alabama, Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia, Ohio State, Tennessee, Maryland and Penn State. Each school projects him to be a tackle, based on his amazing athleticism for someone his size, though college scouts have been encouraging him to build reps at all five offensive positions, making him much more valuable and will get him on the field faster in college.
By next summer, Hiller wants to be committed to a school and enjoy his senior year, with the possibility of committing during this coming basketball season.
For now, Hiller is going to be a problem for the next two years for every defense that has to face the Red Raiders. Whereas teams may game plan for a game-disrupting defender, Hiller is a unique oddity where defenses may have to game plan against a path-clearing offensive bulldozer.
Another thing is Hiller will be staying at Coatesville. IMG nationally and several local private schools have approached Hiller about transferring. He is staying at Coatesville, where his parents, AJ and Amy, went, as is his brother Colton. Last year at this time, Max was maxing 260 pounds on the bench and is now hitting 325. His power cleans are up to 325. He just turned 16. He is squatting well over 500 pounds, though what makes him exceptional are his fast feet.
“I have to step up this year on and off the field,” said Hiller, who carries a 3.6 GPA and is so athletic, La Salle University offered him a basketball scholarship. “I’m watching my diet, and I feel there is always room for improvement. I’m eating a lot more chicken and rice. I can’t wait for this season. I get the best work at practice every day, going against the best, because I believe iron sharpens iron. I go against the best, and Terry (Wiggins, the Penn State-bound 6-3, 210-pound senior linebacker) is the best. He helps with my game, and I help him.
“Terry has also been a big help with the recruiting process, telling what to look for, what the NIL situation is like. No football for Colton though, because there is a lot to risk. Colton and I push each other, and I want to see him reach 3,000 points. I mean it. He can do it. I used to beat him up (in basketball) when we were younger (laughs), but now, I have no chance (laughs). You want to quote me, quote me on all basketball players are soft (laughs). On the field this year, I know I’m going to be a target. I’m big, so people will be coming after me. I want to play with aggression; I want to play with an edge. I want to be the one who brings the contact.
“You play across me, I’m the guy who wants to beat you up.”
Off the field, Max is an “overgrown Teddybear, a great, great kid,” as Coatesville head coach Matt Ortega described him.
“Max is the type of special athlete that when the whistle blows, he goes into a different mold, he plays with an aggression that you cannot coach or teach,” Ortega said. “You put that together with how freakish athletic he is, it’s unstoppable. That Max is staying at Coatesville, it says something about Max’s character and who his family is. I believe you make a path where you are. Max Hiller is not going to have a problem going to a major school. Everyone thinks the grass is greener somewhere else. It’s not. Everything he needs is here, facility wise, no travel expenses, and it helps that his parents went here.
“Some parents today get caught up with where things used to be, getting plays on film. Today, every major college will find you. Max is developed, works hard, he has a great attitude and that translates into a Power Five school. Max wants success. We have had success over a long period of time, and when that happens, you tend to take a little for granted; you sway away and forget the mentality. This group is about being what the mentality is about, not just say it. This is a great group of kids that we’re excited about.”
Is this Coatesville team capable of playing in December?
“We are and we will,” Hiller said without hesitation. “We want to play La Salle and St. Joe’s Prep. I’m one of the leaders of this team and we’re not afraid of them. I’m certainly not afraid of them. This team is designed to win a state championship. I’m going to do everything in my power to make it happen.”
Joseph Santoliquito is a hall of fame, award-winning sportswriter who has been covering high school football since 1992 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be followed on Twitter @JSantoliquito [twitter.com]. Follow EasternPAFootball.com on Twitter @EPAFootball [twitter.com].