Maxx Crosby may not have won the Defensive Player of the Year Award this year. But you’d never know it based on how some of this year’s draft prospects talk. There were so many who, when asked who they try to emulate, said Maxx, that NBC had to put together a montage of them.
Maxx Crosby’s inspiring the next generation.
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NFL) pic.twitter.com/XeMYinecKC
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) February 28, 2024
Missouri’s Darius Robinson said Crosby is his idol. “He has really long arms, just like me. He’s always turning his shoulders, he plays with a relentless motor. He really sets the standard for D-line play.”
Florida State’s Jared Verse said “You look at his play style, it’s relentless. . . That guy is just relentless, no matter what.”
UCLA’s Laiatu Latu said “Really when I got to learn pass rush and stuff like that, it’s been Maxx Crosby for me. His relentless tenacity it just speaks volumes. It’s like every play is like his last. Really his moves. He’s always working something after another. If one doesn’t work, he’s working another one. He’s just super crisp. And even in the run game as well.”
It makes a lot of sense. Crosby has those qualities every coach wants to see from a player they draft. They want to see them not only maximize their potential but play above expectations, just as Crosby did as a fourth-round pick.
Crosby accomplished it through hard work. Controlling what he can control and letting everything else take care of itself. Most of these guys are super talented. But talent will only take them so far. Outworking everyone else is the key to the rest.