Max Tooley
{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Max Tooley
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Minnesota Vikings
| number = 45
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/player/53793/|title=Max Tooley|website=ourlads.com|access-date=May 17, 2024}}
| birth_place = Bountiful, Utah, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 225
| high_school = Bountiful (Bountiful, Utah)
| college = BYU (2018–2023)
| undraftedyear = 2024
| pastteams =
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
- Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)*
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 =
| pfr = ToolMa00
}}
Maxwell Tooley (born March 5, 1998) is an American professional football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played college football for the BYU Cougars.
Early life and high school
Tooley attended high school at Bountiful in Utah. Coming out of high school, Tooley was rated as a three star recruit where he decided to commit to play college football for the BYU Cougars.{{cite web |last1=Schaefer |first1=Kevin |title=BYU football recruiting: 3-star safety Max Tooley commits to the Cougars |url=https://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2015/9/16/9342723/byu-football-recruiting-3-star-safety-max-tooley-commits-to-the-Cougars |website=Vanquish The Foe |date=16 September 2015 |access-date=18 May 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Steves |first1=Talo |title=Maxwell Tooley Fulfills Lifelong Dream |url=https://247sports.com/college/byu/article/bountiful-defensive-back-maxwell-tooley-fulfilled-a-childhood-dream-with-his-commitment-to-at-byu-75047168/ |website=247Sports |access-date=18 May 2024}}
College career
In Tooley's first two seasons with BYU in 2018 and 2019, he played in 17 totaled games, where he recorded 50 tackles with two being for a loss, and an interception.{{cite web |title=60 in 60: #20 BYU's Max Tooley (Linebacker) |url=https://kslsports.com/502070/60-in-60-20-byus-max-tooley-linebacker/ |website=KSL Sports |access-date=18 May 2024}} During the COVID shorted 2020 season, Tooley notched 44 tackles with three going for a loss, a pass deflection, and an interception.{{cite web |title=60 in 60: #31 BYU's Max Tooley (Linebacker) |url=https://kslsports.com/489088/60-in-60-byu-max-tooley-linebacker/ |website=KSL Sports |access-date=18 May 2024}} In 2021, Tooley would finish the season posting 68 tackles with five and a half being for a loss, a sack, three pass deflections, and an interception.{{Cite web |last=Ireland |first=Kyle |date=April 27, 2024 |title=Former BYU LB Max Tooley Signs With Houston Texans |url=https://kslsports.com/516053/byu-max-tooley-signs-houston-texans/ |access-date=18 May 2024 |website=KSL Sports}} In week one of the 2022 season, Tooley recorded five tackles and an interception which he returned for his first career touchdown in a 50-21 win over South Florida.{{cite web |last1=Drew |first1=Jay |title=Linebacker Max Tooley brings humor, hitting ability and ball skills to Cougars' defense |url=https://www.deseret.com/2022/9/7/23338494/byu-football-max-tooley-pick-six-big-moment-in-win-vs-soouth-florida/|website=Deseret News |date=7 September 2022 |access-date=17 May 2024}} In week six, Tooley tallied 13 tackles as well as an interception for the Cougars versus Notre Dame.{{cite web |last1=McCann |first1=Dave |title=Max Tooley now a leader on BYU's defense. Here's how it happened |url=https://www.deseret.com/2022/10/13/23401583/how-byu-linebacker-max-tooley-became-a-leader-on-cougars-defense/ |website=Deseret News |date=13 October 2022 |access-date=18 May 2024}} Tooley finished the 2022 season notching 57 tackles, a forced fumble, three interceptions, and two touchdowns.{{cite web |last1=McCann |first1=Dave |title=For BYU linebackers Max Tooley and Ben Bywater, the long wait is almost over |url=https://www.deseret.com/2023/4/22/23686566/byu-cougars-linebackers-max-tooley-ben-bywater-recovering-nicely-from-offseason-surgeries/ |website=Deseret News |date=22 April 2023 |access-date=17 May 2024}} During Tooley's final collegiate season he totaled 92 tackles with five being for a loss, a sack, an interception, and a forced fumble.{{cite magazine |last1=Davis |first1=Coty |title=Texans to Receive Major Boost at Linebacker From UDFA Max Tooley? |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/texans/houston-texans-receive-major-boost-linebacker-from-udfa-max-tooley |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=May 2024 |access-date=18 May 2024}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2 1/8
| weight = 229
| dash = 4.58
| ten split = 1.71
| twenty split = 2.64
| shuttle = 4.54
| cone drill = 7.34
| vertical = 34.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 2
| arm span = 32 1/4
| hand span = 9 1/4
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1025105&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Max Tooley College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=May 17, 2024}}{{Cite web |url=https://kslsports.com/514195/byu-football-big-12-pro-day-official-results-aidan-robbins-max-tooley/ |title=Big 12 Pro Day Official Results: How BYU Football Players Performed |website=KSLSports.com |access-date=June 17, 2024}}
}}
= Houston Texans=
After not being selected in the 2024 NFL draft, Tooley decided to sign with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent.{{cite magazine |last1=Lundquist |first1=Casey |title=Five BYU Football Players Ink Free Agent Deals |url=https://www.si.com/college/byu/cougars-in-the-pros/five-byu-players-ink-free-agent-deals |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=28 April 2024 |access-date=18 May 2024}}{{cite web |last1=May |first1=Travis |title=Houston Texans' elite pass rusher undrafted free agent is set to impress at NFL Rookie Minicamp |url=https://atozsports.com/houston/houston-texans-elite-pass-rusher-undrafted-free-agent-nfl-rookie-minicamp/ |website=AtoZ Sports |date=8 May 2024 |access-date=18 May 2024}} He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Houston Texans Transactions (08-27-2024)|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-08-27-2024|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=August 27, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Houston Texans Transactions (08-28-2024)|url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-08-28-2024|website=HoustonTexans.com|date=August 28, 2024}} He was released on September 17.{{cite web |title=Houston Texans Transactions (09-17-2024) |url=https://www.houstontexans.com/news/houston-texans-transactions-09-17-2024 |website=houstontexans.com |access-date=18 September 2024}}
=Minnesota Vikings=
On September 19, 2024, Tooley was signed to the practice squad of the Minnesota Vikings.{{cite web|title=Vikings Sign Linebacker Max Tooley to Practice Squad |url=https://www.vikings.com/news/max-tooley-linebacker-signed-practice-squad|author=Peters, Craig|website=Vikings.com|date=September 19, 2024}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 16, 2025.{{cite web|title=Vikings Sign Dozen-Plus Players to Futures Contracts for 2025|url=https://www.vikings.com/news/2025-future-free-agent-signings|author=Peters, Craig|website=Vikings.com|date=January 16, 2025}}
Personal life
Tooley is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a mission for the church in London, England, United Kingdom.{{cite web |last1=Toone |first1=Trent |date=29 Apr 2024 |title=2 Latter-day Saint returned missionaries selected in NFL draft |website=thechurchnews.com |url=https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2024/04/29/nfl-draft-sione-vaki-safety-devaughn-vele-receiver-utah-utes/ |access-date=12 Oct 2024 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.vikings.com/team/players-roster/max-tooley/ Minnesota Vikings bio]
- [https://byucougars.com/sports/football/roster/season/2023/player/max-tooley BYU Cougars bio]
{{Minnesota Vikings roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tooley, Max}}
Category:Players of American football from Utah
Category:People from Bountiful, Utah
Category:American football linebackers
Category:BYU Cougars football players
Category:Houston Texans players