Maxwell, a senior at Midland High and verbal commitment for MSU’s 2009 recruiting class, threw for 1,526 yards, 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions during the regular season for Midland.

But football stats aren’t the only numbers that describe Maxwell.

At 6-foot-3 and 192 pounds — with a frame that could support added bulk — Maxwell has the body-type of an elite quarterback.

With a grade-point average higher than 4.0 and the position of Midland’s student body president, he also has the poise, smarts and maturity to handle the adversity that comes with being an NCAA quarterback.

“During the recruiting process, coaches would call and ask me, ‘Is this kid for real? He seems too good to be true,’” said Terry Wilczek, who coached Maxwell for three seasons at Midland. “I’d just say, ‘No, that’s him, that’s Andrew, that’s who he is.’ He’s a team-oriented guy, he’s unselfish and that’s who he is and I think that’s one of the things Michigan State liked about him.”

While Maxwell’s off-the-field success impressed the MSU recruiting staff, his composure and talent on the field were key contributions in his quick rise through the recruiting ranks.

After committing to MSU in March 2007 as a three-star prospect, according to recruiting Web sites Rivals.com and Scout.com, Maxwell shot to the pinnacle of the recruiting world in July when he attended the EA Sports Elite 11 quarterback camp in Los Angeles.

“It was an incredible experience and it was something I never really thought could happen, but it happened for me this year and I was just thankful that I was able to do that,” Maxwell said of the Elite 11 camp. “I met some great guys over there, learned some great stuff and am just thankful for the experience.”

Although Maxwell said the recruiting process was “flattering,” he added that he was glad to end it on March 2, when he gave his verbal commitment to MSU.

Before arriving on campus, Maxwell will have a lot of work to do as he attempts to use his arm and pocket presence to lead Midland to a second-straight appearance in the state championship game. After his season ends, he said he plans on working on his consistency, footwork and leadership skills before coming to East Lansing.

Sometimes in the recruiting world, players don’t pan out — regardless of their rating coming out of high school. In Maxwell’s case, Eric Methner, Midland’s coach, said the quarterback’s desire to improve, coupled with his talent and maturity, make it easy to predict how Maxwell will play at the NCAA Division I-A level.

“I see some of the throws that some of these other guys are making and I don’t think there’s any question he’s going to be able to make those throws and be successful at that level,” Methner said. “There isn’t any question in my opinion of whether or not he’ll be able to succeed at the next level.”