Last Thursday was a big one for the Anderson football program as starting quarterback Max Gerlich made his college decision official when he committed to the University of Texas San Antonio to play Division One football. He chose the Roadrunners chiefly because of “the relationship [he has] with their coaching staff. Max went on to tell me that “Coach Traylor and Burke are two of the best in the business and [he] know[s] that they will be pivotal in [his] development”.
“Making it to the next level is a dream come true”
– MAx gerlich
After being a staple of the class of 2025 Trojan Pop Warner teams for many years, Max transferred to Del Valle High School ahead of his freshman season to play for former IMG coach Bobby Acosta. Following Gerlich’s sophomore campaign where he featured in 9 games, throwing for 890 yards and 6 touchdowns, Acosta departed Del Valle for a job at Arkansas–Pine Bluff. Max followed suit and transferred back home to Anderson to finish his high school career.
Gerlich’s promising Junior season was cut short by a season-ending knee injury against Bowie. Still, he showed improvement from his sophomore and freshman years in limited action behind starter Brady Gephart. This year, Max will be THE guy for the Trojans and will be counted on to use his outstanding arm to push the ball down the field for the Trojan offense.
When asked about his biggest football influence, Max said “it would be impossible to narrow it down to just one”. He’s had so much help along the way from trainers, coaches, teammates, and friends, and each person was an integral part of his journey to becoming a Division 1 athlete. The Anderson football program has also played a big role in getting Max to where he is today. Gerlich said that “having the privilege to go to work with [the Anderson] guys day [in] and day out, experiencing the level of competition that [Anderson has] on a day-to-day basis has made [him] a much better player and competitor”. Additionally, he “can’t say enough” about the coaching staff at Anderson and how they’ve really taken him in and developed him.
Looking ahead to the 2024 season, Max is certainly as excited as anyone. There’s a palpable buzz around the program and for good reason. “We’re returning a bunch of playmakers on both sides of the ball so this year should be special,” Max said. Despite being already committed, Max has his sights set on a successful senior campaign before he makes the short drive down I-35 for another 4 years of the game he loves most.
