BREAKING: Blue-chip edge rusher, son of ex-NFL LB commits to Penn State football

Penn State football is continuing its hot streak in the 2025 recruiting cycle with another significant pickup along the defensive front. On Monday, James Franklin and the Nittany Lions beat out Oklahoma and Texas A&M for the commitment of four-star Texas edge rusher Max Granville.

Granville makes his decision after visiting Happy Valley on the weekend of May 31. From Fort Bend Christian Academy in Sugar Land, Texas, the edge rusher also took official visits to Baylor (April 26), Texas A&M (June 14), and Oklahoma (June 21).

BREAKING: CO/25 4 ⭐️ DE Max Granville ( @max_granville13 ) has committed to Penn State Rivals sources tell me.
–
Granville is a 6’3 ( 225 LBS ) Weakside Defensive End out of Sugar Land, TX. He chose Penn State over Oklahoma, Texas A&M and More! Ranks 9th in his position… pic.twitter.com/jIU2cdBRlW

— Steezo (@SteezoDsgn) June 24, 2024

Granville’s recruitment takes wild turn

For the early portions of the 2025 recruiting cycle, Max Granville had been in a neck-and-neck battle between Oklahoma and Texas A&M. He’s held a crystal ball to the Sooners on 247Sports since January, while the Aggies were the front runner in On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine since May 14.

Following his visit to Norman this weekend, Oklahoma emerged as the clear favorite for Granville’s commitment, earning a crystal ball from 247Sports Oklahoma insider James Jackson and retaking the lead in On3’s RPM.

However, Granville’s recruitment took a notable swing in the favor of James Franklin and Penn State football Monday afternoon. The Nittany Lions earned predictions from four On3 analysts – Steve Wiltfong, Derek Young, Josh McCuistion, and Blue-White Illustrated’s Ryan Snyder – while also receiving a crystal ball from Lions247’s Tyler Calvaruso.

Max Granville is a consensus four-star prospect and the No. 19 linebacker in the 2025 recruiting cycle per On3’s Industry Rankings. A top 200 recruit nationally, Granville is the son of former NFL linebacker Billy Granville, who played four seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals.

The elder Granville played collegiately at Duke in the mid-1990s when new Penn State football defensive analyst Jeff McInerney was the Blue Devils’ defensive coordinator.

Penn State football heating up on 2025 recruiting trail

© Dan Rainville/USA Today Network

You best not blink, or you just might miss a new addition to Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class.

James Franklin and the Nittany Lions have been growing their class size exponentially this month, now adding seven new commitments since June 10.

The majority of the newest Nittany Lions have been added to the defensive side of the ball, particularly the secondary. However, Max Granville will join recently committed four-star Cortez Harris, the top defensive end in Maryland, to help create the next wave of the Penn State pass rush.

Penn State football has the No. 13 recruiting class in the country, according to On3, while 247Sports ranks the Nittany Lions at No. 9 nationally.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation! Please follow us on all of our social channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube) and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media.