IT CAME ON MY RADAR PRETTY LATE THAT I WOULD BE A NATIONAL.

The Lions said despite taking a flyer on Forde in the seventh round, his raw numbers scored the highest with the club’s analytics department.

“He had a lot of good measurables,” said B.C. defensive line coach Robin Ross, who held the same position at Washington State in 1986 when Brian was setting a school record for tackles in a season. “You take everything into consideration and look at where you think they’re going to be.”

What made the Lions take Maxx, who owns a business, marketing and finance degree with a minor in statistics from Idaho, still intrigues him.

“I don’t know what their model exactly stresses,” said Maxx. “I’d love to be in their shoes one day in the front office.

“I like trying to make sense of the world through numbers.”

He didn’t amass any numbers in a rookie season spent on the practice roster, but did enough to stick around because of his size, speed and intelligence.

Lions head coach and general manager Wally Buono also had a history with Brian and was confident Maxx’s pedigree would eventually translate.

“Nobody realized how long it would take,” said Buono. “When he got here you could see the kid was serious. He had a great work ethic.”

Only three players from the 2015 draft remain on B.C.’s roster — Mrabure was cut the following training camp — while running back Shaquille Murray-Lawrence, a third rounder, was released and re-signed this season.

Maxx suited up five times last year, but has taken a massive stride in 2017, appearing in all 10 of B.C.’s games.

The 25-year-old picked up his first sack and forced fumble in late July against Winnipeg and has nine tackles as part of the club’s defensive line rotation.

The Lions sit stewing on their bye week with a 5-5 record after three straight losses, but as Maxx’s journey demonstrates, keeping faith is a big part of the battle.

“It wasn’t always the brightest outlook,” said Maxx, who wears his dad’s old No. 48. “It was pretty bleak at times, but I kept trucking ahead and believed that I could do it. It didn’t happen right away, but it’s happened for a me a little bit this year.

“I’d like to keep taking steps in my career and keep progressing as it goes forward.”

Considering where they found him and the route that led Maxx back to B.C., that probably suits the Lions just fine.