Max Haertel holds the NB · Backup spot in Georgia Southern Eagles’s safety room. Where he sits among the room’s front-line roles:

Max Haertel is a freshman nickelback for Georgia Southern who enrolled early in January 2025 and made the Honor Roll that spring. At Forsyth Central High School in Georgia, he earned first-team all-region honors twice as a cornerback in Region 6-6A and was a second-team all-region selection as a sophomore at outside linebacker. Haertel recorded three interceptions as a senior and finished his high school career with eight total interceptions, five returned for touchdowns, along with 23 total touchdowns. He also competed in track, holding school records in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays.

Georgia Southern2026 — present