Max Gilbert Tennessee: Dad| Age| Kicker| Stats| Parents

Max Gilbert has quickly become one of the standout placekickers in college football, especially for the University of Tennessee Volunteers. From his high school dominance to his early impact in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Gilbert combines strong leg power, consistent accuracy, and a background that reflects both athletic and academic commitment. This article dives deep into who Max Gilbert is: his age, his role as a kicker, key statistics, and what is known about his family and upbringing.

Early Life & Family Background

Full name and upbringing
Max Gilbert’s full name is Maxwell Oscar Gilbert. He was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, and attended Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis.

Parents
Max is the son of Jennifer and Norm Gilbert. While public information about his parents is limited, these are the names listed in his biographical profiles.

Growing up in Tennessee, he had exposure to multiple sports—particularly soccer in his early years—and transitioned to focusing on football kicking during high school. That multi-sport background is often cited as one of the factors that enhanced his athleticism and footwork.

Age, Physical Profile, Position

Age
As of 2025, Max Gilbert is 20 years old. He enrolled in the University of Tennessee in late 2022 and has progressed through his collegiate eligibility in line with the standard college timeline.

Height & Weight
Gilbert measures 6 feet 0 inches (sometimes listed as 6-1, depending on source) and around 200 lbs in playing weight.

Position
He is a placekicker (PK) for the Tennessee Volunteers football team. Placekicker responsibilities include field goals, extra points (PATs), and kickoffs (though often teams have separate kickoffs specialists, punters, etc.). Gilbert’s profile notes also show his capability in kickoffs and sometimes punting in earlier years (especially high school).

High School Career & Pre-College Achievements

Before arriving at Tennessee, Gilbert had a decorated high school career:

• Attended Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, Tennessee.

• Rated by Kohl’s Kicking as a five-star prospect and among top placekickers in the class.

• Also recognized as a four-star punter in some recruiting rankings.

• Senior year performance: made 45-of-46 PATs (point after touchdowns) and six field goals, including a long field goal of 47 yards. Kickoffs often resulted in many touchbacks.

• As a junior, he had a career-long 54-yard field goal.

• Earned multiple high school honors: region special teams MVP, finalist for Tennessee Mr. Football High School Kicker of the Year, etc.

These achievements made him a sought-after recruit and led to his commitment to Tennessee in September 2022.

Tennessee Volunteers: College Career & Stats

Since joining the University of Tennessee, Gilbert has made significant strides. Below is a breakdown of his college performance up through the 2024 season (as of data available).

Breakdown & Highlights:

• Accuracy & consistency: In 2024, Gilbert was perfect in all PAT attempts (54/54). This is critical for a kicker’s reliability. ESPN.com+1

• Field goal success: 20 out of 26 gives him a ~76.9% success rate for field goals. While there were misses, many of his makes were from long range—multiple from 50+ yards.

• Long kicks: His career long field goal at Tennessee through 2024 is 52 yards. Also noted that he made two field goals from 50+ yards in consecutive weeks—an achievement not seen at Tennessee since 1982.

• Scoring impact: With 114 points scored in the 2024 season, Gilbert’s contributions ranked him among top scorers for special teams in the SEC. He averaged about 8.8 points per game in 2024.

2025 Early Season Snapshot
In 2025, Gilbert has continued strong performance (data available for early games):

• Field goal & PAT percentages are perfect in games played so far.

• Longest field goal early in 2025: 53 yards.

These early season stats show both consistency and capability for high-pressure, long-distance attempts.

Style of Play & Noteworthy Attributes

Max Gilbert’s profile shows several strengths:

1. Strong leg for distance
   His ability to make multiple 50+ yard field goals, and long kickoffs (including many touchbacks in high school) showcase that his leg strength is a major asset.

2. Consistency under pressure
   Perfect PATs in college, ability to bounce back from misses (as seen during games like vs. Mississippi State) illustrate mental toughness and reliability.

3. Academic recognition
   He has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll for multiple seasons. This indicates discipline off the field and balance between athletics and academics.

4. Early involvement & development
   Even while redshirted his first true freshman year (2023), he benefited from participating in team practices, bowl environments, and strengthening his skills before taking over as the starting kicker in 2024.

Age & Eligibility / Redshirt Status

• Max enrolled in December 2022, joining in time for winter practices and bowl activities before formally participating in games.

• He redshirted the 2023 season—meaning he did not appear in games, preserving a year of eligibility.

• In 2024, as a redshirt freshman, he became the starting placekicker.

• By 2025, he is a redshirt sophomore, still young in eligibility, with room to grow and make more impact.

Parents, Personal Life & Off-Field Bits

Though much of Max Gilbert’s public profile focuses on athletic achievements, some personal and family details are known:

• Parents: Named as Jennifer (mother) and Norm Gilbert (father). No widely publicized information suggests any parent is a former athlete or coach (in football); if so, it has not been highlighted in major media sources.

• Academics: He is majoring in management at the University of Tennessee. This suggests interest beyond athletics and looks toward long-term career planning.

• Sports Background: Before focusing on football kicking, he played soccer and was recognized in that sport as well in high school. This multi-sport experience is often credited with improving coordination, kicking technique, and generating power in his kicking motion.

Comparisons, Records & Milestones

For context, some milestones and comparisons underscore how special Gilbert’s performances are:

• He became the first Tennessee kicker to make two 50-plus yard field goals in consecutive weeks since Fuad Reveiz did so in four straight games in the 1982 season. That’s nearly 40+ years of history he is rewriting.

• His 114 points in the 2024 season rank among the highest single-season totals for kickers in Tennessee history. While not always directly the team’s top scorer (offense often dominates), that is significant for a kicker.

• His long field goal (52 yards) in 2024 vs Georgia was the longest by a Vol kicker since 2019.

Areas for Growth & Challenges

While Max Gilbert is performing well, there are natural areas for growth:

• Field goal percentage: ~76.9% in 2024 is good but leaves room for improvement. Often kickers who contend for national awards push into the upper 80s or low 90s. Consistency from 40-49 yards and 50+ yards will be key.

• Clutch kicks: High-pressure moments in SEC games (especially in hostile environments like on the road or in overtime) test both physical and mental strength.

• Durability and endurance: Maintaining leg strength over the long season, staying healthy, dealing with varying weather and field conditions (rain, cold, wind) will matter especially for long kicks.

Recent & Current Status (2025 Season)

As of the early games in 2025:

• Gilbert has continued a perfect streak for both field goals and PATs in the games to date.

• He has already connected on a 53-yard field goal in 2025 — evidence his long-range ability is intact and improving.

This suggests that momentum from his 2024 season has carried forward into the current campaign. Fans and analysts will watch to see how he performs in tougher, high-stakes games and whether his FG% climbs.

Why Max Gilbert Matters (in Context of Tennessee & SEC)

• The SEC is arguably the toughest conference for kickers due to stadiums with big crowds, pressure situations, and elite opposing defense and special teams play. Gilbert’s performance in the SEC — making long field goals, being reliable on PATs — boosts Tennessee’s scoring dependability.

• Special teams can swing close games. Having a kicker who can convert long field goals opens up coaching decisions (e.g., attempting field goals in fourth down or at the end of halves).

• For Tennessee fans and program building: Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, etc., often decide games on narrow margins. Effective placekicking is part of that margin. Gilbert’s rise adds stability in a role that is often volatile.

Conclusion

Max Gilbert is more than just a kicker; he’s a rising star in college football. At 20 years old, with significant achievements already under his belt, he combines physical tools (leg strength, accuracy), mental composure, and a solid foundation (both athletically and academically). His family background provides the roots, but his performance propels him. If he continues to improve his percentages, make big kicks under pressure, and maintain consistency, Gilbert may become one of the memorable kickers in Tennessee history—and possibly nationally recognized.