James Franklin: ‘Heart breaks’ over loss of promising young defender

On Thursday, we learned that Penn State football will be without rising redshirt freshman edge rusher Max Granville for a prolonged period due to an undisclosed long-term injury. The loss is a notable blow to the Nittany Lions defense, which was counting on the second-year defender to be a significant part of its pass rush in 2025.

Shortly after the news of Granville’s injury broke, James Franklin met with the media and provided additional insight into the situation.

“Max is out with us with a long-term injury,’ he said. “…He got hurt over break at home and working out.

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“Obviously, not an ideal situation. And, my heart breaks for the kid and the family, and obviously not what we wanted or needed either. Was a guy that played last year; we were depending on taking that next step this year.”

Granville appeared in seven games in 2024, a year which was technically the Sugar Land, Texas, native’s senior year in high school before reclassifying and joining the Nittany Lions in the summer. The son of former NFL linebacker Billy Granville, the 6′3“, 247-pound edge rusher was rated as a consensus four-star prospect.

Franklin outlines next steps for Penn State football at defensive end

Penn State football coach James Franklin. © Matt Thomas / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

Although a disappointing setback for a young defender viewed highly by the Penn State coaching staff, Granville’s loss opens the door for a group of young pass rushers to make an impact this fall.

The Nittany Lions’ first rotation along the defensive front is set, with veteran defensive ends Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zuriah Fisher returning for a final year on campus. Behind them, however, Penn State only has two young edge rushers – Jaylen Harvey and Jordan Mayer – who have appeared in game action.

With 86 days until kickoff against Nevada, Franklin is calling on the younger members of the Nittany Lions’ pass rush to fill the void.

“Other guys are going to have to step up now,” he said. “We’ll see how that all plays out. Kind of early to say at this stage, but between obviously, Dani and Fisher, and Harvey and Mason Robinson and [Mylachi] Williams and [Enai] White and [Yvan] Kemajou and there’s some guys in that room, [Dayshaun] Burnett, that was here in the spring, and then some guys that just showed up as well.

“He [Granville] was a young player, but by losing him we just got a little bit younger too. You know, it is what it is at this point. In some ways, the earlier you find out, the better. You get going on trying to speed up the maturation process of the other guys.”

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