Washington adds junior college offensive lineman Maximus McCree

UW’s shortage of offensive linemen was evident throughout spring practices.

The seven available scholarship offensive linemen rarely rotated. At times, only half of the defensive line rushed so half the offensive line was able to catch their breath. 

Now, the Huskies are adding another body in the trenches. 

Washington added another transfer offensive lineman Friday afternoon, earning a commitment from former Maryland offensive tackle Maximus McCree. The 6-foot-6, 290-pound offensive lineman most recently completed his second stint at Iowa Central Community College.

McCree is the third offensive lineman to announce a transfer to Washington this spring, joining former Ohio State guard Enokk Vimahi and D’Angalo Titialii, a Portland State standout who spent his high-school career at Eastside Catholic. 

A Kansas City, Mo., native, McCree spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons at Iowa Central after finishing his high-school career at Grandview High School in Missouri. 

His first stint with the Tritons was highly successful. McCree was named a second-team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association during the 2020 season. He earned first-team honors from the NJCAA a year later. 

McCree’s strong performances for the Tritons earned him some recruiting attention during the 2022 cycle. He held offers from Missouri, Syracuse and Temple, among others, but chose Maryland and coach Mike Locksley. 

His career with the Terrapins didn’t last long. McCree appeared twice, playing in nonconference games against Buffalo and Charlotte. He left Maryland before the 2023 season and returned to Iowa Central. 

McCree didn’t play during the 2023 season and wasn’t listed on Iowa Central’s roster. All the film he posted from the past year was taken during Tritons’ practices. If McCree didn’t use a year of his eligibility during the 2023 season, then he may have three years remaining despite entering his fifth season since graduating high school. 

He joins an offensive line unit which is looking to replace all five starters from the past season, when the Huskies won the Joe Moore Award. 

McCree, who played tackle in all the film he posted on social media on May 10, has a chance to compete at a position with very little returning experience for Washington. The Huskies now have six scholarship tackles, but four of them — Soane Faasolo, Elishah Jackett, Justin Hylkema and Davit Boyajyan — are either redshirt freshmen or true freshmen. 

Only sophomore tackle Drew Azzopardi, himself a relatively new arrival after joining Washington before spring camp, has any collegiate experience. He played in 15 games across two seasons at San Diego State, including six starts at right tackle. 

Washington briefly held a commitment from former Old Dominion offensive tackle Chris Adams, but he flipped to Memphis on May 6. McCree chose UW instead of offers from Houston, Florida Atlantic, UTSA and Liberty, among others. 

McCree, Vimahi and Titialii put Washington at 14 scholarship offensive linemen entering the 2024 season so far.