Senior defensive back Max Lyons has already received accolades after just the first week of the season. Lyons wants to do more than just be praised this season. He wants to encourage and lead his teammates to the conference championship.
Jonathan Rhodes/The Lion’s Roar
Senior defensive back and punt returner for the Lions football team Max Lyons was named the Southland Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after his performance in the game against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Lyons scored a 60-yard touchdown in his first punt return as a Lion and averaged 33.3 yards per return in his three returns of the game.
Lyons gives the credit to his blockers for helping him to perform at a high level.
“The guys did a good job blocking,” said Lyons. “My job was the easy part. All I had to do was run into the end zone. That’s what it came down to, me just following my blocks.”
Lyons has a team mindset when he catches a punt and prepares to run towards the end zone. He believes and understands that he cannot achieve his goal by himself. He credits his teammates to helping him get there.
“We got our return plays saying which way I should be going, but when I get the ball, I’m just thinking of how I can set up the blockers,” said Lyons. “They got guys coming to tackle me, and I got guys ready to block for me. I try to set up blocks as best I can to help them out.”
Special teams and linebackers coach Aaron Schwanz is proud of the special teams unit as a whole and of the way Lyons has played on special teams and defense.
“Max is the kind of guy that we count on to do a lot of different things,” said Schwanz. “Whether it’s on defense or special teams, whether it’s as a returner or a cover guy we rely heavily on, I’m not surprised to see him make those types of plays. He has been doing a great job, but there were a lot of nice blocks that were made on those plays. A lot of hustle and extra effort plays is the tempo that we need as a special teams unit.”
When the special teams unit gets on the field, instincts tend to override a specific play set or formation. Schawnz believes that it is the players make good things happen on the field especially on special teams.
“You can draw up anything you want, but the players make the plays,” said Schawnz. “At the end of the day, they are the ones that put in the time and the effort. Max did a great job of fielding the football and getting to the spot and obviously his teammates were there to help out. They did a great job of setting up a wall, took great angles and no penalties on the play. When you put a guy like Max in position to make a play, he is going to make the right decision. It’s fun to watch him go out there and do his thing.”
Playing two different positions is a lot of responsibility for one player. Lyons accepts the responsibility and challenge of playing at a high level at both positions.
“I embrace it, I like it,” said Lyons. “It’s what I want to do. I want to play football. Any role I have, I try to do my best at it.”
Lyons’ goal this season is to be a leader for the team by helping his teammates to stay on track and reach the goal of winning the conference title.
“I just hold all the guys accountable,” said Lyons. “I feel like more guys have bought in. After the last game, when I came to practice, I felt even more guys have bought in. You get the feeling that we can do something special here, and we want to perform like we know we can.”
Head Coach Ron Roberts said in the press conference after the game against UL Lafayette that he trusts Lyons to play well at his position and be dependable for his team this season.
“I’m honored,” said Lyons. “I try to do what they say to do on the field and off the field. The best decision of my life was coming here to Southeastern. I love everybody out here. It’s the best experience I’ve had so far in my life.”