Penn Statehashigh expectations for the 2024 college football seasonfollowing another 10-win regular season campaign last fall. The Nittany Lions areprojected as a fringe top-10 team in national preseason rankings, withBig Ten championship aspirationsanda debut College Football Playoff appearancein focus.
PSU opens its 2024 game schedule Aug. 31 at West Virginiaina rematch of the Nittany Lions' 2023 opener win. In the meantime, our Countdown to Kickoff series will feature players whose uniform numbers correspond with that number of days remaining until that matchup. Now at18 days, we focus on a pair of young Nittany Lions in edge rusher Max Granville and tight end Joey Schlaffer.
THE BASICS
-Max Granville-
Position: Defensive end
Class:Freshman
Size: 6-foot-3, 225 pounds
High school: Fort Bend Christian Academy (Sugar Land, Texas)
-Joey Schlaffer-
Position: Tight end
Class:Redshirt freshman
Size: 6-foot-5,242pounds
High school: Exeter Township (Reading, Pa.)
PATHS TO PENN STATE
Considered a four-star talent and Top247recruit in 247Sports' Class of 2025 rankings, Max Granvillewasa long-term priority edge rusher target for Penn State defensive line coach Deion Barnes. The Nittany Lions ultimately edged out programs such as Oklahoma, Texas A&M and USC for his commitment in June,coming six months shy of college football's early signing period.
However, rather than wait to make his move to Happy Valley in 2025, Granville re-classified to the 2024 class this summer, providing him with an opportunity to join Penn State for preseason camp. It was a relative surprise to the coaching staff, with Nittany Lions' defensive coordinator Tom Allen referred to the addition as a "bonus".
"I really have high expectations for Max," Allen said earlier this month. "He's a guy that that has really good twitch, great first-step quickness. There's a lot of things we've seen in practice for a couple days — we haven't had pads on yet — but you could tell quite a bit about the guy's feel for the game."
Last season, as a junior, Granville collected 12 sacks and 19 tackles for loss.One year earlier, he announced himself as a name to know among Texas underclassman by breaking out with 20.5 sacks.
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Tight endJoey Schlafferis theyounger brother of former Penn State offensive lineman and team captainMichal Menet, so he already possessed longstanding familiarity with the program when is own recruitment took off. A scholarship offer from the Nittany Lions arrived in September 2021, and Schlaffer committed only one month later while attending PSU's homecoming game.
Schlaffer's offer sheet also included Arizona State, Boston College, Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Tennessee and West Virginia. 247Sports evaluated him as a three-star talent and the No. 51 tight end in Class of 2023 rankings.
During his career atExeter Township, Schlaffer seta Berks County record for career receiving yards (2,493) and touchdown catches (28). As a senior, he caught 38 passes for 879 yards and nine touchdowns, adding another three scores as a rusher.
GRANVILLE'S SCOUTING REPORT
Granville's high school highlights were a fun watch and speak to the upside he possesses at the next level. The Texas product is a twitched up athlete with plenty of bend to his pass rushing ability. There are some shades of former Penn State star and Miami Dolphins first round draft pickChop Robinsonto Granville's game. The measurables are similar if you look at where Robinson was at this point during his high school career.It's not just the athletic profile that makes Granville a potentially high-level addition to Penn State's defensive line room. Granville shows disciplined and strong hands on tape. He is fundamentally sound in multiple facets as a pass rusher and will only continue to fine-tune his technique under the tutelage of pisBarnes, who was the main driving force in getting Granville on board. - Lions247 recruiting analyst Tyler Calvaruso
SCHLAFFER'S COLLEGE CAREER SO FAR
Schlaffer was one of two2023 tight end prospects who graduated high school early for January 2023 enrollment. The other wasMega Barnwell, who departed the program within a few months. Top247 prospectAndrew Rappleyeajoined the mix in May and ultimately played more game snaps (31 across three games) than any other offensive skill player.
Although he gained a significant amount of early practice experience due to the Spring 2023 practice absences ofTheo JohnsonandTyler Warren,Schlaffer was ultimately an observer for all 13 contests last fall. He was among seven scholarship freshmen who didn't check into game work, handling Developmental Squad duties.
Beyond the spotlight, Schlaffer made crucial physical gains. Listed 6-foot-5, 220 pounds on Signing Day and 230 pounds as a true freshman, he now tips the scales at 242 pounds. Efforts in the strength and nutrition departments have been key, while Schlaffer also told Lions247 hefound a 1,500-calorie milkshake at Cold Stone Creamery.
2024 OUTLOOK
Granvillegave Penn State's defensive end outlook a boost at the right time, as the Nittany Lions are down two projected contributors in redshirt seniorZuriah Fisher (sidelined indefinitely after suffering an injury during spring practice) andJameial Lyons(dismissed from the university), and that's after losing a pair of 2023 All-Big Ten performers to the NFL.
Converted star linebackerAbdul CarterandDani Dennis-Suttonare the positional leaders, while redshirt seniorAmin Vanoverand sixth-year seniorSmith Vilbertare primed to take on expanded roles. There is also a trio of redshirt freshmen who've yet to see game action:Joseph Mupoyi,Mason RobinsonandWisconsintransfer Jordan Mayer.
Penn State welcomedtwo 2024 signees to campus earlier this year inJaylen HarveyandMylachi Williams, but the preseason freshman buzz has landed on Granville.
"He's already flashed in the first two days," Penn State head coachJames Franklinsaid Saturdayduring preseason Media Day. "Athletic, quick, a lot of things you saw on the high school tape, but you don't know if those things are going to show up when they get here. But that has already happened. He also tested really well with our baseline testing with coach (Chuck) Losey and that staff as soon as he was cleared and able to do that."
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Schlaffer continues tocompete in a highly talentedtight end room.Penn State said goodbye to an NFL draft pick at tight end for the second straight offseason, asTheo JohnsonfollowedBrenton Strangeinto the league as a Round 4 selection, but 2023 co-starterTyler Warrenremains on campus as a fifth-year senior and isprojected among the position's best nationally.
The battle for reps beyond Warren has largely centered on redshirt juniorKhalil Dinkins, who served as the No. 3 tight end in 2023, and Rappleyea, the aforementioned redshirt freshmanwho saw extended run withPSU's primary offense during Blue-White Game action.
Thus, Schlafferhas some ground to make up in his pursuit of a consistent, meaningful offensive role. Along with the Dinkins and Rappleyea,he faces competition from redshirt sophom*oreJerry Crossand afive-star January enrollee (Luke Reynolds).
Considering the situation within this tight end room,Schlafferis likelylooking at another autumnin a reserve role. There should be opportunities to make his college game debut during early portions of the schedule.
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PREVIOUS NUMBERS
19 - Josiah Brown
20 - Mylachi Williams21 - Vaboue Toure
22 - John Cappelletti23 - Antoine Belgrave-Shorter24 - Ta'Mere Robinson and Corey Smith
25 - Quinton Martin
26 - Cam Wallace
27 - Lamont Payne
28 - Zane Durant29 - Audavion Collins30 - Kari Jackson31 - Kolin Dinkins32 - Keon Wylie33 - Dani Dennis-Sutton34 - Franco Harris
35 - Trey Bauer36 - Zuriah Fisher37 - Drew Hartlaub38 - Tank Smith
39 - Ty Blanding
40 - Anthony Speca
41 - Kobe King
42 - Mason Robinson43 - Tyler Elsdon
44 - Tyler Warren and Jalen Harvey
45 - Sean Lee46 - Nick Tarburton
47 - Jordan Hill
48 - Kaveion Keys
49 - Ben Chizmar50 - Cooper Cousins and Alonzo Ford
51 - Hakeem Beamon
52 - Ryan Bates
53 - Nick Dawkins
54 - Xavier Gilliam
55 - Chimdy Onoh
56 - Joseph Mupoyi and JB Nelson
57 - Donnie Harbour
58 - Kaleb Artis
59 - Aaron Maybin
60 - Matt Millen
61 -Stefen Wisniewski62 - Michal Menet
63 - Alex Birchmeier
64- Eagan Boyer
65 - Miles Dieffenbach66 - Drew Shelton
67 -Kareem McKenzie68 - Anthony Donkoh
69 -Floyd Wedderburn70 - Garrett Sexton
71 - Vega Ioane
72 - Nolan Rucci
73 - Caleb Brewer74 - J'ven Williams
75 - Eric Shrive
76 - Steve Smear
77 - Sal Wormley
78 - Mike Munchak79 - Addison Penn
80 - Mehki Flowers
81 - Kyle Brady
82 - Kenny Jackson83 - Joe Jurevicius84 - Peter Gonzalez85 - Luke Reynolds86 - Brenton Stange
87 - Andrew Rappleyea88 -Jerry Cross89 -Dave Robinson90 -Liam Andrews91 -Dvon Ellies and Chase Meyer92 -Smith Vilbert93 -Sander Sahaydak94 -Ryan Barker and De'Andre Cook95 -Jordan Mayer and Riley Thompson96 -Immanuel Iyke97 -T.A. Cunningham98 -Jordan Stout99 -Coziah Izzard100-Meet the Penn State transfer class
