\u201cMy heart breaks for the kid and the family,\u201d James Franklin said during his summer availability. \u201cObviously not what we wanted or needed either. He\u2019s a guy that played last year and we were depending on taking that next step this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
The veteran Zuriah Fisher is expected to see plenty of snaps coming off of a season-ending injury, but outside of the sixth-year the defensive end room has a ton of question marks.<\/p>\n
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Defensive end Zuriah Fisher (36) attempts to make a tackle on a Indiana player at the Penn State Football game inside Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions beat the Hoosiers 24-33.<\/p>\n
Chris Eutsler<\/p>\n
A recent addition is freshman Yvan Kemajou, who enrolled in the spring. His name has been generating a ton of buzz. During strength coach Chuck Losey\u2019s availability in February, Kemajou was an early enrollee that caught his eye from the moment he stepped on campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cYvan is a monster. You guys are going to love him,\u201d Losey said. \u201cHe\u2019s got a monster work ethic, as you\u2019ll see when he gets out there. He\u2019s a very developed kid for a young kid in his lower half. He\u2019s got a ton of strength. He\u2019s going to be a good one for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
He had only been on campus for a few months, but he\u2019s made significant progress.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During the Blue-White Game he played alongside Fisher for a majority of his reps. Dennis-Sutton and Granville didn\u2019t see the field, so Kemajou was out there to capitalize on an opportunity.<\/p>\n
By the looks of it, his 6-foot-3, 244-pound frame fits in with guys on the defensive line who had been with the program for a few years.<\/p>\n
Kemajou committed to Penn State as a 4-star prospect, the No. 33 defensive lineman nationally and No. 7 player in Maryland.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As a recruit he was praised for his IQ, as his intelligence may transfer over to more than just the football field with his major being in mechanical engineering.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe came in really built, pretty much ready to play,\u201d Granville said in April. \u201cI think he came in at 245, 250 and he’s been very impressive so far. He caught a lot of people’s eyes so far this spring ball, just how physical he plays, not taking crap from the offense, standing his ground and making plays.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Defensive end Max Granville (18) hits a football out of a coaches hand during football practice on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 outside Holuba Hall in University Park, Pa.<\/p>\n
Jacob DeLuca<\/p>\n
Defensive line coach Deion Barnes said that Kemajou came in with a \u201cdifferent type of mindset.\u201d It\u2019ll be a few months until it’s known where he stacks up in the defensive end rotation, but he\u2019s been a workaholic since he arrived in Happy Valley.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He may just find himself in a contributing role come the fall whether Granville got hurt or not \u2014 though his injury certainly helps Kemajou\u2019s chances.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s a smart kid. Man. He takes coaching, apply it right away, violent \u2014 he tricks you,\u201d Barnes said. \u201cYou see him, nice kid, and then on the football field he got a switch. A violent kid, can take the coaching, and he can do some things on the football field that not too many freshmen can do. Been out here working \u2014 that\u2019s one thing he definitely does. He never wants to stop working.\u201d<\/p>\n
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