What did James Franklin say about Max Granville's injury and the Penn State plan at defensive end now?

Penn State will be without a key second-year player who figured to play a prominent role in the team’s defensive end rotation for most, if not all, of the 2025 season. Blue-White Illustrated reported Thursday morning that Texas native Max Granville has suffered a long-term injury. The exact nature of the setback is unclear. But, head coach James Franklin, meeting with reporters for the first time this summer shortly after the news broke, was asked about the situation and the Lions’ plan moving forward.

“Max is out with us with a long-term injury,’ Franklin said. “He got hurt over break at home and working out. Obviously, not an ideal situation. And, heart breaks for the kid and the family, and obviously not what we wanted or needed either. The guy that played last year, we were depending on taking that next step this year.

Program veterans Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zuriah Fisher are expected to start at defensive end for the Nittany Lions. Granville projected as a season-teamer to start the year. He played 52 defensive snaps last season over seven games. Three came in the regular season, which preserved his redshirt. The other and four appearances came first during the Nittany Lions’ Big Ten Championship game and then the resulting three College Football Playoff games.

Who must step up now for the Lions?

Franklin put it best on Thursday with a simple question. He said: “There’ll be competition in that room, but he was a young player, but by losing him, we just got a little bit younger too, right?”

Penn State did indeed just get even younger at defensive end. More players at that position are in Granville’s class or younger than not.

“Other guys are going to have to step up now,” Franklin said. “We’ll see how that all plays out. Kind of early to say, at this stage, but you know, between obviously, Dani and Fisher, and [Jaylen] 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.

“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.”

Granville was looking forward to a big second season at Penn State

Speaking with reporters this spring, Granville reflected on what he learned during his first Penn State season and what that might mean for his second year in State College.

“It’s been amazing to be able to make it to the Final Four with my teammates last season, just being next to some great defenders like Abdul [Carter], and getting used to the college environment and atmosphere,” Granville said. “And then getting into the spring ball and just continuing to develop. I think I’m heads and shoulders above where I was when I came in. So, that’s really been the goal.

“I’m just getting better at the little things,” he said. “I knew I was going to have to get better in the run game. But, I didn’t know to the extent. And I kind of got humbled the first couple practices of spring ball. I wasn’t dominating the way I wanted to. So really, playing against tight ends in the run game if they come down on me, playing against stretch, not cocking my hands back, just playing with good technique, sound technique, in the run game. And then off the field, just trying to be consistent with recovery, just all my habits, trying to be better, with my sleep, all those things that’ll help me be a better player on the field.”

That progress will be slowed for now. But, Granville will now focus on getting back to the practice field as soon as possible. Whether that is later this year or ahead of the 2026 season, however, remains to be seen.