Maxey earns chance to play in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers

MARS HILL, N.C. – Former Mars Hill defensive lineman Johnny Maxey has agreed to terms with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League as a rookie free agent. Maxey will now participate in the team's rookie minicamp which runs from May 6-8.

Mars Hill Head Football Coach Tim Clifton stated, "We are excited and proud of Johnny Maxey. He has worked very hard during the offseason and it has paid off. Johnny has the size, talent, and work ethic to be successful at the next level. We wish him the very best and will be pulling for him in the fall."

Maxey finished off what was a stellar career with the Lions with a remarkable senior season. Johnny was a catalyst for the Mars Hill defense, standing alone with a team-leading three sacks and ranking second on the team in three separate categories: tackles (82), tackles per game (7.5), and tackles for loss (7.5). These impressive numbers earned him a spot on the All-SAC Second Team Defense, as well as First Team All-Super Region II by Don Hansen's Gazette and Third Team Defense for the 2015 Don Hansen NCAA Division II All-America Team.

Johnny helped to anchor a defense that ranked first in the South Atlantic Conference in 2015 with just over 90 tackles per contest and fourth with 12 sacks. Playing in 35 of a possible 42 games for the Lions, Maxey has amassed 205 tackles, 14 sacks, and 23 tackles for loss for his career.

Maxey stated, "I am very excited about this opportunity. I have been working extremely hard and have been anxiously waiting for this chance. I am ready to work hard and earn a spot playing at the next level. I am very grateful to Mars Hill University and especially the football coaches that have helped me get to this point. My coaches at Mars Hill gave me the opportunity to play football when all other schools gave up on me. Without the coaches at Mars Hill believing in me as a player and a person I would not be where I am today and have a chance to play in the NFL."