Max Starks Maximillian Weisner Starks , IV ( born January 10 , 1982 ) is an American football offensive tackle currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for the University of Florida . He was drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft . Early years . Starks was born in Orlando , Florida . He attended Orlando Christian School for sixth to eighth graders , where he played basketball and volleyball for the OCS Knights . As an eighth grader he wore size 15 shoes — when he had a difficult time finding shoes that fit he borrowed shoes from NBA star Shaquille O ' Neal , who played at the time for the Orlando Magic For high school , Starks attended Lake Highland Preparatory School , a private prep school in Orlando , where he is the only high school football player in the history of the Highlanders to become a pro athlete . He was one of the state ' s top offensive linemen in 1999 , and was named to Super Prep ' s , National Bluechips and Prep Star ' s high school All - America teams , and a " USA Today " honorable mention All - American . He was a two - time all - conference selection in basketball . College career . Starks received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville , Florida , where he played for coach Steve Spurrier and coach Ron Zook ' s Florida Gators football teams from 2000 to 2003 . During his time as a Gator , he won a Southeastern Conference ( SEC ) championship ring ( 2000 ) and blocked for record - setting Gators quarterbacks Rex Grossman ( 2000 – 2002 ) and Chris Leak ( 2003 ) . As a senior , Starks was a team captain and first - team All - SEC selection . While he was a Florida undergraduate , Starks was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity . He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor ' s degree in sociology in 2007 . Professional career . Pittsburgh Steelers . Starks is among the largest NFL players , standing at 6 ' 8 " and 370 pounds with a size 19 shoe . Four other relatives of Starks have been professional football players . He was drafted in 2004 , round three , pick 12 , by the Steelers . He became a starter for the first time in the 2005 season for the eventual Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers . Playing right tackle , he blocks for fellow Steelers such as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and running back Rashard Mendenhall . Entering the 2007 season , Starks lost his starting job to Willie Colon ; however , he played in all 16 games . He also started 4 games at the end of the season at left tackle in place of the injured Marvel Smith . On February 21 , 2008 , the Pittsburgh Steelers placed the transition tag on Starks . He signed his one - year , $ 6 . 85 - million tender offer on April 19 . He signed another one - year contract with the Steelers following their victory in Super Bowl XLIII . On June 23 , 2009 , the Steelers signed Starks to a new four - year , $ 26 . 3 million contract . The deal includes $ 10 million in guarantees . He was released by the Steelers on July 28 , 2011 . , but was later re - signed by the Steelers on October 5 , 2011 . He is currently working on the rehabilitation of a knee injury , and had said publicly that he hopes to return to the Steelers for the 2012 season . He later announced on his Twitter he re - signed with the Steelers for the 2012 - 13 season . Personal . Starks is the son of former professional defensive lineman Ross Browner . Ross Browner , who was a first - round selection in the 1978 NFL Draft by Cincinnati and started 36 of 43 games during his career . Browner was a two - time ( 1976 , 1977 ) All - American defensive lineman at Notre Dame and won the Lombardi and Maxwell Awards . Presuming he was the biological son of Max Starks , III , he did not discover the identity of his actual biological father until he was in high school . In high school , Starks , whose family was involved in the funeral business , was known to drive a hearse to school . The Browner family as a whole has had more players in the NFL than any other family . Ross ' brothers Joey Browner , Jimmy Browner , and Keith Browner all played in the NFL . Starks ' s cousin , Keith Browner Jr . , plays college football linebacker for the University of California . Starks appeared in Chunky Soup commercials eating soup with Steelers back - up quarterback Charlie Batch , defensive tackle Casey Hampton and others . In 2006 , he traveled with Seattle Seahawks defensive end Bryce Fisher and Atlanta Falcons defensive end Patrick Kerney on the USO Tour , traveling to United States military bases , a tradition begun by such NFL greats as Frank Gifford and Johnny Unitas . In 2005 Starks visited the USS " Theodore Roosevelt " at sea , along with members of the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff . In addition , he was heavily involved in the local community in college , including serving as a tutor in Gainesville , Florida while enrolled in school at the University of Florida , and working with Kids Against Drugs , Alcohol and Tobacco . In college Starks became involved with the charity Cents of Relief which works to prevent human trafficking and allow access to healthcare for vulnerable populations , particularly women of prostitution and their children . He currently serves on the charity ' s Board of Directors .