STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – On the practice field at Fort Bend Christian Academy in Sugar Land, Texas, head coach Jordan Black wore a helmet and shoulder pads.
The 44-year-old is a former NFL offensive tackle who played college football at Notre Dame before spending a decade in the league. As a high school coach, he knows that getting his Class of 2025 elite running back, Max Granville, to do quality work against his teammates can be a challenge. So, Black wanted Granville to work against him to see how the teenager would respond against a seasoned NFL veteran who could use his hands and still packed a strong punch.
“That’s why I know he’s elite, because I don’t just see what he does, I’ve lived it,” Black said. “He’s very, very talented … As far as a pure pass rusher, there’s no guy in the county that’s better.”
Granville, a four-star prospect ranked No. 166 nationally by the 247Sports Composite, is one of three defensemen committed to Penn State in the 2025 cycle. All three have committed since June 23 and rank among the 250 top prospects nationally, with Jayden Woods ranked No. 215 and Cortez Harris ranked No. 248, respectively.
Not only do the players from Texas, Kansas and Maryland bolster a recruiting class that ranks sixth nationally, but their pledges also shed light on what defensive coordinator Tom Allen and defensive line coach Deion Barnes are looking for in the coming years. Penn State is prioritizing edge rushers of different shapes and sizes, knowing that one of its best assets is building a room where each edge rusher will attack the quarterback differently. Penn State wants variety, and it’s getting it with this trio.
“Most schools are looking for a prototype of what they have in mind as far as defensive end or outside linebacker, whatever it may be,” Black said. “Talking to Penn State, what they understand is that there’s nothing an offensive tackle hates more than having to deal with a bunch of different-sized players during a game. … What Penn State emphasized is that they don’t want everyone in their defensive end room or everyone in their pass rush room to look the same, and I think that’s absolutely the way you want to approach the quarterback attack.”
Granville is 6’2″ and weighs 230 pounds, while Woods is 6’3″ and weighs 275 pounds and Harris is 6’2″ and weighs 200 pounds. Woods recently recorded a vertical leap of 40 inches in training.
Mill Valley 🏈 @Atm_Jayden is the newest member of the #TopSpeedTeam 40 inch jump club 👏
At 235 pounds, he might also be the biggest athlete to ever be over 40 💪 image.twitter.com/bLnysKjFLh
—Joseph Potts (@TopSpeed) May 31, 2024
Barnes can point to what Penn State did last season with Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac as examples of two players with different skill sets who were able to succeed. In all likelihood, Abdul Carter’s position change from linebacker to defensive end will be a good case study of how Penn State wants to take a standout athlete and move him around to create mismatches. The Nittany Lions have done it before with their most explosive linemen, like when they moved interior defensive lineman Kevin Givens or when they did the same with Yetur Gross-Matos. It’s what they had planned to do more with Micah Parsons during his junior season that never materialized.
“Everybody wants their own Micah Parsons. Everybody wants their own Myles Garrett,” Black said. “The undersized guys are not your typical defensive ends and it’s not like they’re just playing defensive ends and that’s it. They’re moving them around. They’re putting them on the weak link of the offensive line and letting them go after him. … Put our best player on their weak link and his athleticism, his speed, his bending ability is going to beat him every time.”
GO DEEPER
Penn State adds its ninth June commitment in 4-star Jayden Woods
Other notes on Penn State’s recruiting surge:
• Quarterback Troy Huhn won the starting job on the varsity last year at the start of his sophomore season at Mission Hills (Calif.). Huhn, who committed to Penn State in 2026, is just 16 years old. Last summer, his coaches weren’t sure how he would respond in a game where most of his teammates are older and he would have to step up.
The questions they had about him were answered during the first game.
“They were doing a really good job controlling the line of scrimmage on us, so I had to put the decision in Troy’s hands and start playing fast and throwing RPO,” Mission Hills head coach Chris Hauser said. “Just watching him lead our team down the field and make decisions and throw lasers when they need to be lasers and touch balls when they need to touch balls, I’m like, ‘This kid is really good.’”
• One of the stories I’ve heard from fans, and that has followed every release in this class, is that players are changing teams just for better name, image and likeness opportunities. With linebacker DJ McClary heading to Rutgers and running back Alvin Henderson heading to Auburn, Penn State’s non-playing efforts have once again been in the spotlight.
Keep in mind that financial numbers associated with NIL are rarely made public. Here’s what I do know: When Henderson committed to Penn State in April, it wasn’t his best financial offer. When Huhn chose Penn State, there were stronger NIL opportunities elsewhere, too.
The thing to note, and it’s especially relevant given all the additions in this class, is that not every recruit is very NIL-focused. Some certainly are, and that’s where Penn State has struggled. However, this week is a reminder that relationships and due diligence in the recruiting process are still very important, and in some cases, can win out.
• Penn State’s commitment to bringing in three running backs in this class hasn’t changed. The way they got there was different after Henderson’s trade to Auburn. With four-star running back Jabree Wallace-Coleman committing and joining a pair of three-stars in Tiqwai Hayes and Kiandrea Barker, the seemingly endless replenishment of talent for Ja’Juan Seider to work with continues.
• Is Big Ten expansion the reason Penn State is suddenly an attractive place for Mater Dei cornerback Daryus Dixson and Huhn, the quarterback from San Marcos, Calif.? It certainly doesn’t hurt that Penn State plays on the West Coast. However, there are two top-tier conferences left in the sport, and players want to be in one of them.
GO DEEPER
Penn State adds ninth June commitment with 4-star lead Jayden Woods
It seems to be becoming less about proximity to home and more about being in the Big Ten or SEC. Seeing a class like this speaks to the ability of the staff and Penn State’s brand, with a player each from Kansas, Texas, California and Arkansas, plus players coming from the usual areas like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut and Florida. Quarterback Bekkem Kritza, who is back at Miami Central but is from Colorado, is another example of Penn State’s national appeal and the players’ desire to be in the Big Ten.
As recruiting begins earlier, prospects are able to visit campuses earlier and more frequently. Viral moments fill their schedules, and enhanced recruiting graphics and virtual visits have helped prospects feel comfortable playing for teams on the other side of the country.
“In the past, a lot of these big-time kids tried to stay on the West Coast,” said Danny Hernandez, a quarterbacks coach who works with Huhn. “USC, UCLA, those schools would be the first to target a lot of these kids. That is completely ruled out. Once these kids started traveling and visiting, you go to a game like White Out and you go to some of these games in the SEC or whatever. You end up realizing, ‘I’m totally comfortable playing on the other side of the country.'”
• Four-star wide receiver Jeff Exinor Jr. of Maryland’s McDonogh School will announce his commitment on Friday. Exinor closed out his official June visits with trips to Penn State and Maryland. Wide receiver Corey Simms of Christian Brothers College in St. Louis will announce his commitment on Monday. These are two big announcements. Penn State has one receiver committed in this class in four-star prospect Lyrick Samuel. Wide receiver remains a position of need and right now, it’s the top remaining priority for this class.
(Photo: Matthew O’Haren / USA Today)
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