Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1535618
1 6 J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M The original plan had been for four-star edge rusher Max Gran- ville to join Penn State as part of the 2025 recruiting class. Had he done so, Granville would have played his senior season at Fort Bend Christian Academy in Sugar Land, Texas, and would only now be preparing for his debut with the Nittany Lions. Instead, the 6-foot-3, 247-pound defensive end reclassified and enrolled at Penn State last summer. He saw action in two regular-season games and three postseason contests, finishing with 1 tackle and 1 pass breakup while preserving his freshman eligibility. In his first season as part of position coach Deion Barnes' defensive line room, Granville was able to watch and learn from more-experienced teammates such as recent first-round NFL draftee Abdul Carter and current senior Dani Dennis-Sutton. He'll be looking to put those lessons to good use this fall, with his role set to expand as a redshirt freshman. Granville recently sat down with Penn State beat reporters to discuss his progress. QUESTION: You came to Penn State ahead of schedule, join- ing the team last summer as part of the 2024 class. What has the past year been like for you? GRANVILLE: "It's been amazing, really unreal, to be able to make it to the final four [of the College Football Playoff] with my teammates last season and just being next to some great defend- ers like Abdul and getting used to the college environment, and then getting into spring ball and continu- ing to develop. I think I'm head and shoul- ders above where I was when I came in, and that's been the goal." QUESTION: In what ways do you feel like you've improved? GRANVILLE: "Just getting stronger in the weight room, getting faster, and then on the field, refining my pass rush, working on the little things, especially in the run game. "This spring, that's something I've been working on. I knew I was going to have to get better in the run game, but I didn't know the extent. I got humbled the first couple practices of spring ball. I wasn't dominating the way I wanted to. I've been working on playing against tight ends if they come down on me … just playing with good technique. "Off the field, I'm trying to be consistent with recovery. I'm trying to be better with my sleep and all those things that will help me be a better player on the field." QUESTION: Was there a moment in practice where it felt like you were a little further away in the run game than you en- visioned? GRANVILLE: "We have a really high standard in our D-line room. We want to put tight ends and tackles a couple yards deep in the backfield every time, and I wasn't doing that. I was get- ting stalemated. Sometimes, I was getting twisted up, and Deion doesn't [like] that. I'm just trying to get better in that aspect, which I have." QUESTION: What would you say the tone in the defensive line room has been this spring? Dani Dennis-Sutton was banged up this spring, and you lost some guys to the NFL, so what's the mood like right now? GRANVILLE: "We're a real competitive room. Even injured guys like Dani, they're still very active in that room and making the standard clear and encouraging dudes. We pride ourselves on being very competitive, very physical. I think the room is in a great place." QUESTION: What areas of growth have you seen with the defense this spring? GRANVILLE: "We're playing fast. We're getting used to this new defense, which has been good for us. It's a little bit of an adjustment for everybody, but I think we're doing a really good job just playing fast, reading our keys, all those different types of things that come within the defense." QUESTION: Drew Shelton said some positive things about going up against you in practice. He's a se- nior and has been starting games at Penn State since his freshman year. What has it been like facing him and some of those other experienced offensive tackles? GRANVILLE: "It's been great. It's defi- nitely sharpened me. Iron sharpens iron. Going against some of the top tackles on our team, when I got here, I barely won. I was losing a lot. Drew's kickback is really athletic, and then he plays things pretty balanced. He can take power well. I'm being really precise with my hands, and just dip- ping the shoulder, turning the toe. All the little intricate details have helped me going against those tackles." QUESTION: What did you take from your experience working alongside Abdul Carter last year? GRANVILLE: "The way he went about his business. He didn't talk too much. He just came in and worked. He was very confident in his abilities because of the work he put in. Just that swagger he car- ried out onto the field because of his prep- aration, that's something I really admire about him. I'm sure he'll do big things at the next level." Sitting Down With Redshirt Freshman Defensive End Max Granville Granville arrived at Penn State ahead of schedule after originally committing as a member of the 2025 recruiting class. PHOTO BY SEAN FITZ