SIOUX FALLS – Max Mickey, who was an eight-time All-American with the University of Sioux Falls Football program, has signed a contract with San Antonio of the Alliance of American Football (AAF), a newly formed professional football league. He will go to training camp in November with San Antonio to compete for a spot on the team roster with play opening February 9, 2018.
 

Led by many highly respected pro football people, the AAF, which includes eight teams, will play a 12-week schedule beginning on Feb. 9, 2018 on CBS. The championship game will be held the weekend of April 26-28, 2018. The AAF, founded by TV and film producer Charlie Ebersol and NFL Hall of Fame inductee and long-time NFL administrator Bill Polian is intended to offer a brand of high-quality professional football fueled by a dynamic Alliance between players, fans and the game, according to the AAF website.

The website stated that fans will be able to stream Alliance matchups live via the free Alliance app while accessing integrated fantasy options with real rewards — for themselves and the players they are cheering on.

Mickey, who had a rookie-mini camp workout with the Minnesota Vikings, last May (2018), ranks as one of the best running backs in school history. Mickey, who helped lead the Cougars to a 9-3 record and a fourth straight postseason appearance in 2017, finished fourth all-time at USF in rushing yards with 3,720 yards on 586 carries with 44 total TDs, including 41 by rushing.

During his time at USF, Mickey, who features extraordinary balance and breakaway speed, helped lead the Cougars to a 41-8 record and three playoffs berths in NCAA DII. As a freshman, he was part of a team that finished 11-1 and won the Mineral Water Bowl (42-10 over Central Oklahoma). He was part of a 9-3 team in 2015 that reached the playoffs and played a major role as USF won the program's first NSIC title in a 12-1 season. USF was unbeaten in league play at 11-0 and advanced to the "Sweet 16" in the DII playoffs in 2016. In six games in 2017, he had 937 carries on 157 carries (156.2 yards per game) with nine TDs, including a long of 87 yards.?

Before he sat out the last five games of the regular season (injury) in 2017, Mickey led the league with 174.6 yards per game. He had 37 carries for 114 yards and a TD in the 26-7 win over Minnesota-Duluth; 24 carries for 217 yards, including an 87-yard TD run, and two TDs in the win over Northern State; 24 carries for 150 yards and two TDs in the 38-7 victory over U-Mary; 24 carries for 180 yards and a TD in the 34-0 win over Minnesota Crookston and 37 carries for 212 yards and a pair of TDs in the 24-10 victory over Southwest Minnesota State. He also rushed for 64 yards on 11 carries with a 20-yard TD in the 24-20 loss to Midwestern State in the DII playoffs first round in November 2017.

Mickey was named one of 42 candidates for the Harlon Hill Award as the DII's top player as a junior (2016). Twice he was selected All-NSIC, including first team as a junior  and second team as a senior.

As a junior, he was named first team All-American on the Don Hansen and the D2 Conference Commissioners Team; second team on the AFCA, HERO Sports and D2Football.com All-American squads and selected to the College Football America Yearbook, Lindy's Magaine and D2Football.com preseason All-American teams in 2017.

One of USF's best running backs in school history, Mickey finished with 18, 100-yard rushing games in his career, which was tied for third most in USF school history). He set school records in yards per carry, average yards per game and total yards in a season in 2016. He ranked sixth all-time in NSIC rushing (league games only) with 3,388 yards on 532 carries and 37 TDs in 40 league games. His 6.36 yards per carry is sixth all-time and his 84.7 yards per game ranks 14th in conference history. In his career, he had six carries of at least 70 yards, including career-best 76. Additionally, Mickey caught 44 passes for 327 yards and three TDs in his career.

Mickey, who was named CoSIDA Academic All-District as a senior, recorded 4,096 all purpose yards, including 1,900 in 2016 and 935 yards in 2017. He also had 10 games of 150 rushing yards or more in his career including four in 2017.