Penn State football's Max Granville on fast track for larger role with Nittany Lions defense

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

Max Granville left home last summer without having a high school graduation.

He trained in the Texas heat and felt good about where he was physically as he headed to college.

Still, he was a little unsure about what he was getting into as he skipped his senior year at Texas Fort Bend Christian Academy and reclassified to the 2024 recruiting class.

He enrolled at Penn State as preseason practice began.

Advertisement I was in the training room the first day I got here doing some medical stuff, and they were just coming in from, like, a walk-through or lift type thing, Granville said this month.

Just seeing the size of everybody, like, Oh, thats Nick Singleton.

Oh, thats Vega (Ioane).

Oh, thats Anthony Donkoh.

Like, those dudes are huge.

I was definitely a little starstruck at first.

Granville said he thought about reclassifying several times during his high school career, and once he committed, he was set on it.

When his friends were getting ready for their high school games last fall, he was trying to soak in as much as he could from teammates like Abdul Carter, who could be the No.

1 pick in this years NFL Draft.

Granville quickly realized a trait Carter had plenty of.

Confidence, Granville said.

The work he does behind the scenes gives him that true confidence.

You can just see it when he runs around that field, when hes walking out the tunnel.

And the way he talks about himself his confidence that he has is like no other.

Granville looks and sounds like someone who is on the fast track to being one of the next big-time edge rushers to come out of Penn State.

Hes excited to have another season to learn from Dani Dennis-Sutton, who projects as one of the best defensive players in college football.

Granville is also impressing himself as he continues reshaping his body since enrolling.

He added more than 20 pounds since his arrival and hovers around 245 but aims to be a lean 252 pounds next season.

Max Granville pointed to his wrist and said the time is now pic.twitter.com/AHwTcBjuBC Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) February 11, 2025 Hes confident that between the strength training program and scarfing down six hard-boiled eggs per day an action that has garnered some quizzical looks from teammates hell get there.

Granville already has cleared some significant on-field hurdles too, including taking snaps in College Football Playoff games.

He served as Carters backup in the Prowler package, a spot that highlights versatile edge rushers and outside linebackers typically on third downs.

When Carter was injured against Boise State, it provided an opportunity for Granville to take on a bigger role.

He looked prepared.

Advertisement Thats exactly where you want to be to showcase your versatility, Granville said of the hybrid role.

Youve seen our ends in the past are able to play in a similar type of role.

Chop (Robinson) played there; obviously, Abdul played there last; Micah (Parsons), of course, being a hybrid linebacker.

In Jim Knowles defense , the Jack or Leo positions showcase a versatile player who works as an edge rusher/outside linebacker.

How that position is utilized at Penn State will be determined in the coming months as Knowles familiarizes himself with the roster.

It could be an ideal fit for Granville, who at 19 years old is still getting the hang of the whole college experience.

He calls plans of potentially going home for prom a bit far-fetched.

After all, Penn State starts spring practices March 25.

GO DEEPER What drove Jim Knowles to Penn State from Ohio State? He has a few tattoos he has picked up along the way, including one on his wrist with N:0W appearing like a digital clock.

Those, too, were part of his transition to college.

I didnt tell my parents, he said, laughing.

They found out and were cool about it.

Odds and ends I spent some time chatting with running back Quinton Martin Jr.

last week at Penn States second-year player media availability.

One thing that continues to stick with me is how much Martin wants to be here.

Of course, hes a Pennsylvania product, and he committed to Penn State knowing Singleton and Kaytron Allen would be here for at least one year of his career.

Now that both are back for another season a detail Martin said he didnt expect he continues trying to find the positives in their return.

Definitely, aspects of it (are difficult), Martin said.

I would love to play more, but at the end of the day, Nick and Kaytron are incredible running backs, and theyve been here three years.

Theyre veterans.

They know a lot about the game, and Im just happy I get to learn and critique my game in every way that I can by watching them, watching what they do to prepare.

It can be frustrating at times, but at the same time, its a good thing because I feel like Im learning more.

Advertisement Martin had some opportunities as a kick returner last season, a role Singleton usually holds.

Martin said hes open to catching passes out of the backfield if thats what he can do to help the team and get on the field.

Much like we saw last season with Andy Kotelnickis willingness to spread the ball around, Martin could be in line for a bigger role.

Martin and classmate Corey Smith said they talk about how maybe they can become the next dominant duo of Penn State running backs like Singleton and Allen.

Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer saw firsthand how quickly his position group can change.

One day, Beau Pribula was on the practice field as Penn State prepped to play SMU in the first round of the Playoff, and the next day, Pribula hit the transfer portal.

It was definitely a surprise, Grunkemeyer said.

Grunkemeyer was elevated to the No.

2 spot after Pribulas departure and played against SMU.

That game experience was invaluable.

You learn a lot from gaining live reps in terms of things to do, things not to do, Grunkemeyer said.

It was really important for my growth as a football player.

Having Drew Allar return for another season means Grunkemeyer can continue going to him with questions and watching how Allar works.

Grunkemeyer said the reserves watched how Allar responded in the moments and days after throwing the interception against Notre Dame.

In the locker room, they saw a teammate who was super professional and worked to keep spirits high even with players who were out of eligibility.

When they returned to campus, Allar didnt let the pick linger.

Hes a workaholic, Grunkemeyer said.

That guy is in the facility more than a lot of people, other than some of the coaches maybe.

He just works.

I dont think things like that (interception) are going to change that.

(Photo: James Black / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).

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