He’s in a Rush: Aztecs’ Maxey Adjusts Quickly : Football: It took him three days to make a satisfactory move from H-back to high school position of running back.

SAN DIEGO —  There are certain things you never forget how to do, such as riding a bike or tying a shoe.

To San Diego State’s Larry Maxey, playing running back seems to come as naturally.

After not playing the position since his high school days at Morse two years ago, Maxey nonchalantly stepped out of his H-back spot and into the Aztec backfield last week.

After only three days of practice, Maxey was nearly flawless Saturday night against Air Force.

“He really impressed me,” running back Curtis Butts said. “He’s made the adjustment better than any of us thought he would.”

Playing mostly on passing downs, but occasionally on running downs, Maxey carried the ball three times for 17 yards, caught two passes for eight yards and missed his assignment on only one play.

“Even on that play, Larry did what he was told to do, he just didn’t make the adjustment while the play was going on,” said John Blaskovich, the Aztec running back coach. “But for not being moved over until Tuesday, he did an incredible job. His coming over to running back really gave us a lift. Larry Maxey goes 100%, 100% of the time.”

Even Maxey was surprised at his performance against Air Force.

“I still had a lot of running back skills that I thought I might have lost,” he said. “I hadn’t come out of the backfield in two years, but my first carry felt even better than I ever did in high school--I felt a lot more explosive and quicker.

“My reactions are a lot faster now, but they have to be. I get to the hole a lot faster than I have in the past. I guess I just have the instincts for running the ball.”

Blaskovich said he never had any doubts that Maxey could make a smooth transition.

“I knew already that he was tough, because of some of the things we were doing with him at H-back,” he said. “He’s a smart kid, and he wants to learn. He’s got quick feet and good ball-carrying instincts. He knows where to run.”

But even the brightest and most instinctive player might get a little confused after being asked to play his third position in two years. Because of an overabundance of offensive players, Maxey was moved to safety before his freshman season, and he wound up starting 10 games.

This season, Maxey was switched to H-back because of a logjam in the secondary. During the first three games, Maxey played sparingly while backing up Jimmy Raye, SDSU’s second-leading receiver with 19 catches.

So last week, Maxey was told to play running back after injuries to Butts and Tommy Booker left the Aztecs with just two healthy running backs.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and Coach (Al Luginbill) has been thinking about it,” Blaskovich said. “You’re playing behind a great guy over there (Raye). Larry wasn’t getting on the field. We had to get the guy on the field.”

But now that Butts is healthy again and Booker is close to being 100%, Maxey is being asked to alternate between running back and H-back.

“Coach (Steve) Fairchild (quarterback coach) wants him at ‘H’, and I want him at running back,” Blaskovich said.

What does Maxey want?

“I think I’ll eventually wind up as a running back/receiver,” he said. “I think they’re going to keep me there, because I don’t think they’ll be able keep me out of the game for the fact that I can run with the ball and I can block. I learned the position so fast. If you have a smart guy you have to get him in the game.”

But Maxey said college coaches have always been reticent to play him at running back because they thought a 5-foot-11, 170-pound guy could not hold up over a full season. “I wasn’t recruited by (former Aztec Coach) Denny Stolz to play running back,” said Maxey, who rushed for 1,300 yards and 24 touchdowns his senior year at Morse. “So these coaches never saw me run the ball. Then this year, they moved me to H-back because I don’t think they had the confidence in me because of my size.

“I realize when you’re playing running back you’re taking a constant pounding, but I’m just as tough as any running back we have here. To me, size isn’t as important as what you have in your heart. I refuse to let one man tackle me, or to even get hurt. I just don’t think about that type of thing. I could carry the ball 20 times a game if they wanted me to.”

Blaskovich said he wouldn’t bet against it.

“He’s not scared of anything, and I don’t think anybody will ever question his toughness,” he said.

But Maxey said he understands that he is just just one of five running backs. He also knows that Booker, Butts, T.C. Wright and Kipp Jeffries were all recruited as running backs, and that he is a Johnny-come-lately.

“I don’t mind not carrying the ball as much as those guys, because they’re proven runners,” he said. “I know that there’s no need to throw me in there as they’re doing the job. I know I’m going to get my carries, and as long as the team’s doing well, I’m happy. I just want to be in the game, because I know I can help the team win.”

Blaskovich said the coaching staff has already figured out that much. What they still haven’t decided is where Maxey can be of the most help.

“Sooner or later he’ll settle in at a spot,” Blaskovich said. “I don’t think it matters where it is. Larry Maxey will be on the field playing. He adds that much to your team.”