Lineman Krell translates unique skill set onto the gridiron (VIDEO)

Bears standout mulling through AUS, RSEQ and NCAA options.

Mount Boucherie Bears lineman Krell is hoping cohesiveness can elevate the Bears in 2016

Max Krell

Height/Weight:
5’11, 280 lbs

Positions:
Offensive Line (Centre, Guard), Defensive Line (End)

Teams:
Mount Boucherie Bears (high school: BCHSFA)
Okanagan Sun (CJFL)

Commitment:
None

Official Visits:
None

Considerations:
Simon Fraser (NCAA Division 2), Bishop’s, St. Francis Xavier, Open

Class:
2017

In the three years Max Krell has been playing football, he has come a long way in his development. Originally a rugby player, Krell had no interest in playing football until his rugby coach Mr. Briker encouraged him to do so. After getting accustomed to the game, Krell realized that he enjoyed the physicality the game presented and soon found himself on the line of scrimmage where he could engage with opponents and display his physicality.

“I came into the sport not knowing anything so I just kept my mouth shut and did what they told me. I soon learned that I loved to hit kids, so I wanted to stay as an interior lineman and tussle with the big boys.”

Manning one of the most physical and demanding positions in the game, Krell has embraced his role on the team. One of his favorite aspects of the game is forging out a path for his running backs to follow so they can make plays downfield. Coming into last season, Krell looked forward to being able to help two running backs reach 1000-yard seasons in the Bears’ backfield. However, Mount Boucherie was not able to consistently run the ball effectively. With that being said, the goal of having his team possess two 1000-yard rushers is still a challenge Krell looks forward to taking on for the following season.

After a tough 2015 season for the Bears, Krell believes there is a foundation in place that will allow the team to improve in subsequent seasons. One game in which the team displayed flashes of potential is during a matchup against highly touted Terry Fox Secondary. During this game, Mount Boucherie proved formidable despite being major underdogs.

“When we came into the game a lot of people were saying that it was going to be a blowout and that we were going to get dominated on the scoreboard,” says Krell.

Although Mount Boucherie did not win the game, Krell takes pride in how he and his teammates performed because it was one of the few instances last season in which the Bears came together as a team and earned some respect for themselves.

When discussing the most influential people in the life of Max, there is little doubt in his mind that anybody but his parents has made a bigger influence on the Bears’ guard.

“They’ve always worked hard for me and my brothers to make sure that we live comfortably and that we can always afford to take opportunities like football or rugby camps. They’ve also taught me the true importance of respect and hard work, those two things have shaped me into the person I am today and I wouldn’t trade what I have for anything else.”

With the daily sacrifices that have made by Krell’s parents and the support they have shown their children, Krell’s parents have provided a strong foundation and example for the Krell household to utilize and succeed.

As someone who enjoys physicality and plays with a high motor, Krell has come to admire the dominance of NFL stars J.J. Watt and Rob Gronkowski. In the eyes of Krell, Watt is the league’s best player who never takes snaps off. With Gronkowski, Krell is impressed with the level of dominance the Patriots’ tight end is able to display. However, it is Gronkowski’s unbridled passion for the game that Krell really admires.

“The thing I admire about him though is how happy and childlike he is. He loves the game he’s playing and expresses it while most players in the league are so angry and hostile about it.”

With 2017 being Krell’s final year of high school, the team’s Most Dedicated Player award winner has already begun thinking about his future beyond Mount Boucherie. Looking to study math or law in post-secondary, Krell is hoping these fields of study can help him gain a career as a sports agent, Royal Canadian Mountie Police Officer or an accountant.

While schools have reached out to the Bears’ offensive lineman, at this point Krell is currently in the process of gaining as much information about schools to make an informed decision later on.

“There’s a lot of great programs and universities out there and I’m in the process of researching out to each school and seeing what they can offer academically to me.”

Although relatively brief, the recruiting process for Krell so far has been fun and Krell is excited to have more recruiting experiences within the next year.

With many returning teammates set to come back for the following season, Max greatly anticipates the arrival of football season in British Columbia as he is excited to see the growth from one year to the next.

“We have the potential to be a great team this year, it’s going to be a great year and I honestly can’t wait for spring camp to see what kind of team we are going to be.”

The chemistry that the veteran Bears develop will be key to their success in 2016. Krell believes that if the team can execute as a cohesive unit, then it allow the team to work on other aspects of their game and provide better results overall.

“The biggest thing we need to work on from last year is coming together as a family because near the end of the season some guys were just playing for themselves and not for their teammates.”

Krell is also anticipating the offense implementing a more ground and pound approach, an aspect of the game the Bears’ player enjoys the most.

Knowing that he is going to carry more responsibilities as a veteran player for the team, Krell is working out in the off-season to improve his explosiveness and acceleration off the line of scrimmage. To better these athletic abilities, Krell is still participating as a member of his rugby team, lifting weights four times a week and practicing with Okanagan Sun football team within the CJFL.

Outside of the football field, Max has remained a busy individual. He and his teammates regularly involve themselves with school and community activities, while at the same time still getting his fill from playing rugby. In addition to his social and athletic endeavors, Max spends his time studying so he can raise his grades and develop good habits for when he gets to university.