Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546159
3 0 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M when asked which of his teammates had made an impression on him so far this preseason. In fact, he barely paused be- fore sharing his view that sophomore Yvan Kemajou and redshirt sophomore Max Granville are going to have an im- pact this fall. "Those are two great defensive ends," said Donkoh, who spent the offseason working his way back from an injury but still has gotten a good look at the Nit- tany Lions' rebuilt edge-rushing corps. Kemajou opened some eyes as a true freshman last season. The former four- star prospect from Burtonsville, Md., played in 10 games and was tied for fourth on the team with 5 tackles for loss. Listed at 6-foot-3, 252 pounds, he proj- ects as a starter at defensive end this fall. Granville had seemed to be on an even faster track when he arrived at Penn State in the summer of 2024. He was a late ad- dition to the Nittany Lions' recruiting class, reclassifying just ahead of pre- season practice after having originally been a four-star prospect in the 2025 cy- cle. Despite arriving belatedly, he played in seven games that season and seemed to be primed for a bigger role last fall. That didn't happen. Granville tore his ACL while home in Sugar Land, Texas, following Penn State's spring semes- ter. He missed the 2025 season, and his comeback this spring was slowed by a back injury. His health has been a signif- icant concern for a team that lacks ex- perience at the edge-rushing positions, but Donkoh said both Granville and Ke- majou flashed during the offseason. "Max is coming off an injury from a while ago, but the way he moves now, it's the best I've ever seen him," Donkoh said. "He's the strongest I've ever seen him, and he's on a different type of mission. "Same with Yvan. He had that taste toward the end of last year about how it is to play in big games, and he's going to be there for us when we need him the most. He's going to make a huge impact on the defensive line this year." Penn State will need both pass rush- ers to play significant roles in first-year coordinator D'Anton Lynn's defense this fall. While the group collectively brings plenty of talent with them into their latest (or in some cases first) seasons in blue and white, there are no proven game-wreckers like Chop Robinson and Abdul Carter. Besides Kemajou and Granville, the Lions will be counting on a pair of transfers — redshirt senior Ikenna Ezeogu, formerly of Iowa State, and sophomore Alexander McPherson, for- merly of Colorado — to beat opposing offensive tackles consistently while also holding up in the run game. Ezeogu is by far the most experienced of Penn State's top four defensive ends, having seen action in 39 games and started 12 in his time with the Cyclones. The others will need to continue raising their level of play on a week-by-week basis to start the season. Donkoh said he expects them to do just that. "They're building up into that role, but I wouldn't see it taking that long," he said. "The biggest thing that's hold- ing them back is the game experience. Once they're able to get that game ex- perience and [face] different offensive linemen, they're going to be a threat." ■ Daryus Dixson started two games during his true freshman season and is expected to assume one of the starting cornerback jobs on a full-time basis as a sophomore this fall. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS