With L-L League football Media Day set for Aug. 5, and with pigskin camps set to open on Aug. 11, PennLive presents 12 players to watch for the upcoming season.
The players are listed in no particular order, and we’ll release one day for the next 12 days.
Here’s No. 7: Donegal senior Connor Maxwell.
POSITION: Running back/linebacker
2013 STATS/HONORS: Superb season all over the field for Maxwell, who shined on offense, defense and special teams for the Indians, who won the L-L Section 3 title but missed out on the district playoffs with a 6-4 overall record. … From his RB spot in Donegal’s Wing-T attack, Maxwell rumbled 96 times for 758 yards (7.9 yards per pop) with five TD runs, and he caught a team-high 18 passes for 263 yards and four scores. … From his LB spot, Maxwell made 129 stops — six for losses — forced three fumbles and batted down a pair of passes. … He was named Section 3 Linebacker of the Year, a first-team all-star at LB and kick returner, and he was an honorable mention RB pick for his all-around efforts.
Final 2013 L-L League football stats
NOTABLE: Connor’s older brother, Dylan, was an all-star for Donegal, and he plays linebacker for Millersville University. Connor and Dylan’s dad, Shawn Maxwell, is a former head coach at Penn Manor.
WHAT TO EXPECT: More punishing sticks on defense, for sure. And with leading rushers Jerrod Smith (921 yards, 9 TD) and Kris Trimby (862 yards, 12 TD) gone to graduation, more totes should be coming Maxwell’s way. Tack on kick-return duties, and he’ll be one of the busiest guys in the L-L this fall. Safe to say Maxwell’s uniform will be plenty dirty come the fourth quarter, as he tries to help Donegal defend its Section 3 title.
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