By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine/TV
A lot of kids coming out of high school have a chance to sign in one sport for college, but a select few have a opportunity to play two sports at the next level.
Class of 2024 athlete Maximus Kadrmas of Tioga has a chance to be that special case, to able to choose a sport for college in either track or football.
Choices, choices, choices. Kadrmas has them.
“What I like about track is just the feeling of winning when I cross the finish line. It’s addictive and I love it. Makes me want to strive to be better than ever.
“I started playing the game of football at the age of 7 at the Red River Youth Football League and made a lot of memories there. I started with track my freshman year at 14 years old,” he said.
At Tioga, he has excellent coaches in both sports.
“Coach Kevin Cook has always provided me and my team a good foundation for life and the game of football,” said Kadrmas.
“Head track coach Dan Christman is one of my favorite coaches. He’s my guy. He always has great energy and always can make us laugh. He always wants to win just like me and will do anything for his players. I’m fortunate to be coached by the winningest track and field coach in Cenla.”
Tioga was state runner-up in track and field in May, and Kadrmas was a key contributor. He won state in the 300 meter hurdles and on a leg of the 4×400 meter relay, and ran fourth in the 110 meter hurdles.
As a defensive back last fall, Kadrmas had 34 tackles, 12 pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
His father was a two-sport standout, winning a state title and earning a football scholarship to North Dakota.
But Kadrmas is a Louisiana guy and says he “grew up liking LSU because I’m from Louisiana.”
This summer he attended football camps at LSU, Louisiana Tech and Harding.
He doesn’t have to decide yet which sport to pursue. He may do both at the next level. But at this point, Kadrmas has a slight preference.
“I think it will be hard for me to choose a sport when I’m done because I love both sports a lot,” he said. “But if it came down to picking right now, I would say football for college.”
I believe this 5-11, 178-pounder is a big time Division I sleeper as a strong safety in football. His athleticism is so impressive, and so is his speed. Winning state in the 300 meter hurdles is a big deal because that may be one of the two or three most grueling races in the sport.
There’s a long list of great football/track athletes in our state. Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Eddie Kennison comes to mind, all the way back to the incomparable Billy Cannon, the 1959 Heisman Trophy winner.
I’m not saying Kadrmas is that level of talent. But he is remarkable and I believe will get to choose between playing football at a Division I FBS or FCS school, or doing two sports at a smaller one.
Lee Brecheen has operated Louisiana Football Magazine for over 30 years and is one of the state’s foremost experts on high school football and especially recruiting. Based in Baton Rouge, Lee travels statewide to watch practices and games and has broken down film and tape since the late 1980s. He has converted the printed product to an online website (Lafootballmagazine.com) that will preview every high school and college football program in the state before kickoff this fall. Lee also hosts a football-centric TV show on YouTube, The Sports Scouting Report, on weekdays.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com