Max Hurleman excited for challenge of playing final season for Notre Dame
2024 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Sometime in the next two months Max Hurleman will have to find a few hours to stream “Rudy,” the iconic 1993 film about underdog Daniel ‘Rudy’ Ruettiger’s improbable bid to play football for Notre Dame.
Like Rudy the Wyomissing grad will be fighting an uphill battle to get on the field in South Bend.
He’s not a Rudy, of course. Ruettiger was all of 5-6 and more dreamer than a football player. Hurleman is one of the all-time greats at Wyomissing and played the past four seasons at Colgate. He started 23 games and was named Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Year last season.
Still, it’s a considerable leap from the Patriot League to Notre Dame, which will find its hallowed name in everyone’s Top 10 when those things are revealed before the upcoming season.
“It’s definitely going to be a challenge,” Hurleman said. “It’s a big step up from Patriot League football. I’m at peace with rolling the dice and seeing what I can do with this opportunity, whether that’s special teams or hopefully getting into the running back rotation, or even (at) slot (receiver).”
Hurleman had numerous options for his final season of football when he entered the NCAA transfer portal in November. He limited himself by making academics a priority. And he put himself at a distinct advantage by remaining at Colgate, where he’ll graduate in May with a degree in Economics.
Most players who go through portal, as well as many incoming freshmen, enroll at their new school for the second semester. That way they’ll be on campus to train throughout the winter and be involved in those all-important spring practices and the spring game.
Hurleman was steadfast in wanting to remain at Colgate and complete his degree there.
“I didn’t want to dilute what Colgate means to me academically,” he said. “My decision (to transfer) wasn’t solely athletic or solely academic, it was a mixture of both.”
That means Hurleman will have only a few months to show the Notre Dame coaching staff what he can do; he won’t arrive on campus until June 2.
“I fully understand (that) it’s going to be an uphill battle to get on the field, but that’s what I was looking for,” he said. “I want to see what I can do with the best of the best. That was important to me.”
Hurleman spent his time at Colgate as a running back and receiver, and of course on special team where he led the league in punt returns in 2023. He played in 35 games for the Raiders over three-plus seasons (his freshman season was interrupted by Covid-19 and limited to two spring games).
He caught 28 passes last season, mostly as a slot receiver, and had 28 receptions as a junior, when he played mostly running back.
He displayed his versatility at Wyomissing where he captained the football, basketball and lacrosse teams and was named the Reading Eagle male Athlete of the Year. He earned scholarship offers in lacrosse from Air Force and Lafayette, as well as several for football.
As a senior with the Spartans Hurleman scored 20 touchdowns, ran for 1,238 yards, picked off two passes, made 70 tackles and starred on special teams. He earned All-State honors and led the Spartans to a 12-1 record, their first District 3 championship in five years and to the PIAA Tournament.
His versatility should help the 6-foot, 200-pound grad student find a way to help the Fighting Irish.
“They are aware of my pass-catching abilities,” Hurleman said. “I can see that being utilized. I am competing against four- and five-star guys who they have recruited. So, it’s definitely not going to be easy but there is a place for me and they made that known.
“The messaging is: ‘We want you to be a contributor,’ and that’s the best thing I can hear. I’m not going there just to be a part of something, I want to contribute.”
Hurleman visited Notre Dame for three days in early March, observed spring practice and sat in on team meetings. His experience on the iconic campus was everything he imagined it to be.
“The history and everything that gold helmet means is really special, and I’ve come to realize that,” he said. “It’s such a historic and special and meaningful place. Walking into the game day locker room, with the music from ‘Rudy’ playing . . . it sends chills down your spine. It was really a special moment.
“The academic buildings were second to none . . . the religious sites were breathtaking. Notre Dame checks all the boxes, in terms of (me) growing as a person, an athlete, an academic, and spiritually as well.”
Hurleman will work toward a masters in Business Analytics, a program he hopes to complete in year.
Like Rudy, there will be no telling Max Hurleman he won’t be able to cut it at such a high level of football. He’s far too competitive to listen to that and far to driven to allow it to get in his way. His focus for the next five months is to be in uniform Aug. 31 when Notre Dame opens its season at Texas A&M.
“I wanted to challenge myself athletically as much as I could,” he said. “I had done the FCS and I was looking to use my last year and challenge myself and make the most of it and try to play at the highest level.
“I know there’s a very good chance I don’t get on the field. There’s also a very good chance that I do. I believe in myself; I believe in what I can do. If things go to plan I’m on that plane Week 1 (headed) to College Station and I’m running down on the opening kickoff.”
