Latest news with #ZaneDurant
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Penn State players named to Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophy watch lists
College football's award watch list season is in full swing as we inch closer and closer to the start of the new season, and Penn State continues to be represented on some notable watch lists. In addition to the Maxwell Award watch list including three key offensive players, Penn State landed three players on two additional watch lists wiht the release of the Outland Trophy and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists. Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant was named to the watch list for both awards. Cornerback A.J. Harris joined Durant on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Award for the nation's best defensive player. Durant is joined by Olaivavega Ioane on the Outland Trophy list, honoring the nation's best interior lineman on offense or defense. Penn State has just one Outland Trophy winner in school history. Mike Reid was the Outland Trophy winner in 1969. Kelvin Banks Jr. of Texas was last year's recipient of the Outland Trophy, marking back-to-back winners from Texas with T'Vondre Sweat in 2023. Michigan's Olusegun Oluwatimi is the most recent winner of the award from the Big Ten, winning the award in 2022. Penn State has never had a player win the Bronko Nagurski Award, which has been awarded annually since 1993. Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Zane Durant is named to two award watch lists for 2025
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Top 25 Player Profile, DL Zane Durant
Zane Durant may have gone under the radar at the start of his Penn State career. Now, he is quickly becoming a household name in State College. Earning a starting spot last year on the interior D-line, Durant stood out in a defense loaded with talent. If his 2025 is similar, he could be one NFL scouts will be clamoring over come next April. Here is how Zane Durant's 2025 campaign could look and what it could mean for his NFL draft prospects. 2024 in Review In a defense that included stars edge rushers Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton, Zane Durant somehow stood out as a third option doing his work on the interior. The 6-1, 294 pounder had his best season yet, with 42 tackles, 22 of which were solo, 11 TFLs, three sacks and a pass breakup to boot. Most impressively, he earned the coaching staff's Defensive Player of the Game three separate times, something hard to do with two other stars to contend with. Most importantly though, he gave Penn State a fearsome presence to help shore up their run defense aboth Carter and Dennis-Sutton took care of business off the edge. In 2025, with no Abdul Carter, the pressure is on for Durant to wreak even more havoc up the middle. With the jaw-dropping traits requisite to match a player of DDS' caliber, look for Durant to be on the interior what Dennis-Sutton is on the edge. No Carter should be no problem with Durant at his all-time best. Biggest Question in 2025 What can Durant do for an encore? In a career year, he proved he could play off of two stars and benefit from their success. This year has a wholly different tenor to it however, without Carter's presence. Dani Dennis-Sutton will no double continue to be the star that he is, but can Durant follow suit? The traits: the first step quickness, the explosive movement in a more undersized frame, the impressive motor from the first to fourth quarter: are all there. He must show he can hold out on his own though. There's a reason why he hadn't been able to carve out an immediate role in this squad, and that's his lack of length and somewhat limited pass rush arsenal. Now that Carter's gone, he can't rely on pressure being generated from both sides. He must create his own. Whether or not he can do it remains to be seen, but will be a crucial factor in his growth as a player and how NFL scouts could view him. 2025 will be a success if... Durant simply complements Dennis-Sutton and ultimately proves that he can continuously generate pressure by himself. While he's not the No.1 guy in the front seven, expectations will almost certainly be heightened due to Carter's absence. Every Penn State fan knows what they are getting from Dennis-Sutton, but don't know if Durant can hold up on his own. He truly is a legitimate player with high upside once he gets to the NFL. How he handles a bigger role will be paramount. Most importantly, there may be sometimes where an opposing scheme is more tailored towards Durant's style of disruption. He must show that he can execute that sort of game plan while also being complementary to the depth around him. Overall, Durant does not have to be the second coming of Abdul Carter and he does not need to be. He is his own player with his own style. He must use that style effectively though to continue to have success and build his resume. 2025 will be a disappointment if... Zane Durant fails to have the same presence on the interior as he did last year, and Penn State gets outmatched in the run game because of it. The Big Ten is certainly tailored towards thriving passing attacks, but there are some squads who can gut you up the middle. Minnesota with Darius Taylor and Washington with both Jonah Coleman and Adam Mohammed come to mind. If Durant is not up to par, teams will take advantage of him more often. There will be many more situations where Durant is isolated in space and could be one of the first and last lines of defense. Thus, there are a number of opportunities that could see Durant have to be up to task. If he can't provide energy and efficiency stopping the run game, it could be a detriment to the whole squad and could lead to some shocking upset losses. It is critical that Durant is locked in, or else a potential strength for the Nittany Lions could become one of their biggest weaknesses. Realistic Outlook for 2025 I would not be surprised if Durant's stats jump even more off the page this season. In a role with a lot more freedom from the interior, look fro Durant to especially be the first line of defense in run support. Double digit TFLs yet again this year should be a solid goal to reach for Durant and he could easily get there. It's his draft stock that will be the most intriguing storyline of all. While he does not scream first round pick and maybe not even second, his undeniable attributes stand out on both tape and on the field. If he can continue to put up the elite numbers while honing his skills, then who knows how high Durant could go in next year's draft? This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Previewing Zane Durant's 2025 Season
USA Today
31-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Penn State players named to Bronko Nagurski and Outland Trophy watch lists
College football's award watch list season is in full swing as we inch closer and closer to the start of the new season, and Penn State continues to be represented on some notable watch lists. In addition to the Maxwell Award watch list including three key offensive players, Penn State landed three players on two additional watch lists wiht the release of the Outland Trophy and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch lists. Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant was named to the watch list for both awards. Cornerback A.J. Harris joined Durant on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Award for the nation's best defensive player. Durant is joined by Olaivavega Ioane on the Outland Trophy list, honoring the nation's best interior lineman on offense or defense. Penn State has just one Outland Trophy winner in school history. Mike Reid was the Outland Trophy winner in 1969. Kelvin Banks Jr. of Texas was last year's recipient of the Outland Trophy, marking back-to-back winners from Texas with T'Vondre Sweat in 2023. Michigan's Olusegun Oluwatimi is the most recent winner of the award from the Big Ten, winning the award in 2022. Penn State has never had a player win the Bronko Nagurski Award, which has been awarded annually since 1993. Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads
USA Today
01-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Walter Camp preseason All-Americans include trio of Nittany Lions
The start of July means college football's watch list season is just about here. Helping to get things started was the Walter Camp Football Foundation with the announcement of its preseason All-America team, and a trio of Penn State's top players were included on the roster. Running back Nicholas Singleton and defensive lineman Zane Durant each were named to the first team roster, giving Penn State one player on each side of the line of scrimmage. Offensive lineman Olaivavega Ioane landed on the second team offense from the Walter Camp Football Foundation's preseason All-America roster. A couple of the most obvious omissions from this list would include defensive lineman Dani Dennis-Sutton and quarterback Drew Allar, both of whom have received some first-round draft projections from draft experts. Penn State is one of five schools to have three players on the preseason All-American teams. The others are Alabama, Clemson, Indiana, and Texas. The Big Ten has 15 players appearing on the preseason All-America list, which is the second-most for a conference behind only the SEC (16 players). Penn State's Abdul Carter was named to the 2024 WCFF All-American First Team Defense last season. Tight end Tyler Warren was named to the second team offense. You can see the full preseason All-American roster from the Walter Camp Football Foundation to see who else made the preseason roster.
USA Today
29-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Predicting Postseason All-Big Ten Defense
It may be too soon to tell for some, but it's never too early to start thinking about the All-Big Ten teams, specifically what should be a loaded defensive group. In a conference that prides itself on defensive prowess, 2025 should be a fascinating year for all candidates concerned. After all, this prestigious honor only comes around a couple of times in your life. As I predict the postseason All-Big Ten defense, I think of all these players that I name and the potential history and weight they carry on their shoulders. Defensive Line Mikail Kamara, Indiana Curt Cignetti must have been delighted to see Mikail Kamara's decision to return to Bloomington. The first Indiana D-lineman to be named to an All-America team in 17 years, Kamara will be further looking to bolster the reputation of this burgeoning Hoosiers program. Look for him to improve upon his 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss in a defense that will continue to surprise due to its continuity and depth. Zane Durant, Penn State In a much more expanded role on the interior, look for Zane Durant to truly flourish, especially in terms of stopping the run. An All-Big Ten honorable mention last year, look for him to finally get his flowers. With 42 tackles, 11 for loss, three sacks and a pass breakup, his elite athleticism was on display for all to see. Now it feels like time for him to take that next step. Look for him to mightily benefit from Dani Dennis-Sutton's abilities on the edge to be able to create pressure himself. Rayshaun Benny, Michigan Benny has always been a player who has had to wait his turn. Now that he will be a firmly cemented starter along the Wolverines' front seven, look for him to make the most of it. While only appearing in 11 games, two of them starts, Benny still managed 29.5 tackles, 4 QB hurries and two pass breakups. Now without stars surrounding such as Mason Graham, Benny's stat line is sure to explode in his sixth year with the program. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State Dennis-Sutton's inclusion in this team should be a no-brainer. After all, the hardest part of his Penn State career is officially over. Without Abdul Carter on the other side of him, all the stats and accolades now could be his. Even with Abdul Carter opposite him, Dennis-Sutton still wreaked havoc. He still had 42 tackles and 8.5 sacks, more than enough for Penn State fans to believe that he can continue to carry the torch for one of the country's most fearsome college defenses. Linebackers Gabe Jacas, Illinois One of the most underrated players on this squad, Jacas is the figurehead of everything the Illini do defensively. He is an athletic freak with the ability to move sideline-to-sideline and in his final year with Illinois, will catch many an NFL scout's eye. His 74 tackles, 13 TFLs, and 8.5 sacks are impressive for an edge, let alone an outside linebacker. Last year, they were enough for third team honors. This year, it would be foolish if anything close to those same numbers doesn't earn him a first team spot. Aiden Fisher, Indiana Another underrated playmaker, look for Fisher to continue to do a little bit of everything for the Hoosiers. The first ever Indiana linebacker to earn first-team All-America honors, Fisher's abilities will continue to earn him all the praise he garners. His 118 tackles last season already placed him No. 16 on the single season chart for Indiana, and this year could be his chance to improve upon that as the Hoosiers defense could be frisky and physical yet again. Dominic Deluca, Penn State Dominic Deluca could be said to be the ultimate glue guys for the Nittany Lions. Without him anchoring the back end of the front seven, the Penn State linebackers may not be as cohesive as they would be with him. His two interceptions in their CFP first round game against SMU highlighted his talents and positional versatility for a Penn State squad looking for an emotional leader. While all the big guns could be in the front four, it's players like Deluca who ensure the solidity and well-rounded nature of the defense at large. Cornerbacks AJ Harris, Penn State AJ Harris may reap a lot of the benefits for what his front seven will be able to do this year. If that potent front four do their job well, look for Harris' explosiveness and awareness to generate a lot of turnovers for the Nittany Lions. While only having one interception last year, his five pass breakups prove that more opportunities will come his way this year, especially with the talent surrounding him. His longevity also stands out, playing in all 16 games, something that can go unappreciated for a team of Penn State's depth. D'angelo Ponds, Indiana Several have made the case that with just one season of sample size, D'angelo Ponds is already the best cornerback in the conference. Entering his junior season, he still has room to grow even better. His two-interception game against Washington certainly put him on the map and his nine pass breakups stood out to many. Look for his star to continue to ascend in what could be his final season as a Hoosier. Safeties Caleb Downs, Ohio State If it weren't for all the offensive talent that the Buckeyes had, Caleb Downs would certainly be the headliner in Columbus this year. Viewed as the best defensive player in the country by many, Downs could look to make history as only the second ever DB to win the Heisman. Third on the team last year in tackles with 82 and with eight pass breakups and two interceptions, both in the CFP, Downs has already made an immediate impact on the Buckeyes. The sky's truly the limit for this former Alabama transfer. Dillon Thieneman, Oregon In two seasons with the Purdue Boilermakers, Thieneman was named to a second-team and third-team All-American, a Big Ten Freshman Player of the Week 5 times, and the 247Sports True Freshman of the Year. To top it all off last year, he led all Big Ten DBs with 104 tackles. Now imagine what he can do for an Oregon Ducks program looking to make a major breakthrough as CFP contenders. If the Purdue version of Thieneman shows up for the Ducks, chances are they can maintain their contender status for several more years in Eugene.
