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BROOKVILLE, N.Y. – The Long Island University football team and head coach Bryan Collins have announced its latest recruit for the 2019 season, seven-year-old Maximilian 
Von Holt out of Huntington, N.Y. Von Holt, along with his brother Alexander, will become honorary members of the 2019 squad through a partnership with Team IMPACT.

Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston, Mass. that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes. Since 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 1,700 children with more than 500 colleges and universities in 49 states, reaching over 50,000 participating student-athletes. The child joins the athletic team and the student-athletes join the child's support team. Throughout the journey, the child gains strength, camaraderie and support while the student-athletes experience lessons of courage, resiliency and perspective they can't learn in a classroom.
 
In December 2015, Maximilian was diagnosed with a brain tumor and has been battling to overcome his illness since. Maximillian and his twin brother Alexander were matched with LIU for the 2019 season, and will be integral members of the first Division I season of competition this fall. In addition to the 2019 season, the two brothers will become lifetime members of the program and will forever be a part of the LIU family. 
 
"On behalf of the entire LIU football family, we welcome the Von Holt Family and are especially excited to have Maximilian and Alex," Collins remarked on his newest recruits. "Both of these young men are smart, tough, and committed to family, all qualities that we look for in our LIU football players. We look forward to them joining our team and being on this journey together."

"We are so proud to have these two join our family," commented Director of Athletics Debbie DeJong. "These two boys show incredible perseverance, determination, and grit and we are proud to have them be a part of our program for years to come."
 
The LIU coaching staff will officially welcome the twin brothers to the team on Sunday, April 14 following the team's spring game at Bethpage Federal Credit Union Stadium. Along with signing a letter of intent, Maximillian was presented a No. 20 jersey, while Alexander donned a No. 99 uniform. In addition to the uniforms, his official support teammates, including Greg Amato, Derick Eugene, Joe Amalfitano, Jonathan DeBique, and Anthony Lavio, presented both with autographed footballs and the group spent the afternoon playing catch.