The wait has been a long one for Max Granville.
It is almost over.
Assuming, of course, Penn State’s redshirt sophomore edge rusher continues to make steady rehab progress from the long-term injury he suffered before the start of the 2025 season.
Looking at the 6-foot-3, 251-pound Granville now, as the end of the Nittany Lions’ spring practice sessions approaches, it’s obvious he has done some serious work in the weight room.
Granville, a four-star prospect who prepped in Texas, was viewed as the potential replacement for All-American Abdul Carter after the 2024 season, but his injury set him back.
Now, Matt Campbell and PSU’s two defensive line coaches — Ikaika Malloe and Christian Smith — are counting on Granville to be a difference-maker in pass-rush situations.
“It’s been a long process, but it’s been a blessing, as well,” Granville said earlier this week. “I’ve learned a lot about myself. … Just trusting the process, getting ready physically and mentally, as well.
“Spring practice, I’ve been very limited, mostly working out and things like that during practice, rehabbing some. I expect to be back by fall camp.”
Granville is an interesting player in that he did not play much as a freshman with Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton terrorizing the perimeter. But PSU’s coaching staff and Granville’s teammates were excited by the in-season progress he made.
Granville, sophomore Yvan Kemajou and Colorado sophomore transfer Alexander McPherson loom as key players in coordinator D’Anton Lynn’s defense.
Lynn recruited Granville when he was the Southern Cal defensive coordinator. Granville said Lynn’s arrival in State College impacted his decision to stay at Penn State.
“He definitely played a big part,” Granville said of Lynn.
“One of the big things I was looking for when considering staying or leaving (Penn State) was scheme. Knowing him previously from USC, that was pretty cool. Obviously, he recruited me there. He taught me a little bit about his scheme.
“One of the questions was, am I going to be an inside ’backer in his scheme? Am I going to be on the outside? A lot of that depended on how my body developed.
“And so, him being able to get eyes on me and, OK, you look like we can keep you on the edge. So, we kinda talked through some of that. I have a lot of confidence in (Lynn). When I’m sitting in on these meetings, I’m really impressed with the scheme.”
Malloe is a fan of Granville’s upside based on what he’s seen from film study.
“Obviously, the potential that he has; he’s been working on the side,” Malloe said Tuesday when asked about Granville.
“The one thing that I will say that Max has from film, is just how low he can bend. And I think that’s probably the most important trait, in terms of pass rushers.”
