Yao moved to Dallas to study at SMU. Noting his size, his classmates suggested he try out for the football team. Despite zero experience, he somehow made the roster.
DALLAS — As a child, Max Yao loved to play sports, but he says his opportunities were limited.
Growing up in Suzhou in Eastern China, Yao said, “I never had any chance to train or compete on a high level.”
He also knew sports weren’t a priority for his family.
“Like most Asian parents here, they just care about the academics, not really sports.”
While he focused on school, he always made time for sports like swimming, long jump, shot put, and basketball.
“Even though the school schedule was 7 a.m. to 8:30 pm in China high school, but I still went to the gym every night after school just to train myself.”
For Yao, there was an allure of moving to the United States. He started watching college basketball and wondered if he could one day play basketball in the NCAA as an international athlete.
Yao knew the fastest way to get to the United States was by focusing on his grades.
“I take care of my academics to get into this university first. And I’m here,” said Yao.
He was accepted to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Currently, Yao is an undergraduate student in his senior year. He is majoring in finance.
In the dorms, his friends lightheartedly made a suggestion to Yao.
“All my friends around me say like you are the biggest Chinese I’ve met and I think football is the sport for you. I was like okay, I’ll try it,” Yao laughed.
He decided to go to the SMU football coach’s office.
“Is there any chance for me to get on the team? Is there any tryout or something?” Yao asked.
With no football knowledge, Max Yao made it on SMU’s roster
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In his sophomore year, he tried out for the football team. Yao said there were around 40 people who tried out, but only two people made the cut. Yao was one of them.
He made the football roster as an offensive lineman with zero knowledge of the sport. He had never played, nor watched football before.
But at 6 feet, 4 inches tall and 300 pounds, his coach saw a natural athlete in Yao.
Yao’s former teammate and current offensive line coach, Thalen Robinson, is amazed by Yao’s progress on and off the field.
“The cool thing with Yao is Yao doesn’t have any bad habits that he has set in stone for himself so you work with a clean slate,” said Robinson.
Robinson said it was initially hard for Yao to understand all the football terms and locker room slang.
“His English has just skyrocketed,” said Robinson. “What we have in the room is super rare.”
As an international football player, suiting up for his debut last season during the Navy game was Yao’s NCAA dream. It’s a moment his father flew in from China to witness.
“They are proud I can play at this level,” said Yao.
This wasn’t the path Yao’s parents once imagined for their son, but they have since learned about American football and the NCAA to support Yao.
Yao is excited to play one more season as he pursues a master’s degree at SMU.
“Go Mustangs! Pony up,” he said.