It’s NFL declaration time for a collection of draft-eligible Penn State players in the wake of the Nittany Lions’ College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Notre Dame. And on Saturday morning, two days after the Orange Bowl, James Franklin and his staff got some great news.
Zane Durant, Penn State’s standout defensive tackle, announced that he will return for the 2025 season and hold off on the NFL for now. Durant could have declared for the draft. Instead, he’s coming back to Happy Valley to anchor the interior of Penn State’s defensive line.
Let’s break down what Durant’s decision means for the Nittany Lions next season.
The talent
From a talent standpoint alone, Durant’s decision is massive for Penn State. The junior from Florida is one of the most explosive, disruptive defensive tackles in college football, even if he doesn’t get the credit or recognition he deserves.
Durant was named honorable mention All-Big Ten, a sign that people outside of Happy Valley aren’t paying enough attention to the undersized but effective 6-foot-1, 288-pounder.
Durant finished the season with 11 tackles for loss, second on the team behind Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton. He created plays for others, helping Carter and Dennis-Sutton flourish. And he created his own plays, making his presence felt every time he was on the field.
The departures
Carter is likely going to be a top-five pick, possibly the No. 1 overall selection. Dennis-Sutton might follow suit to the NFL. But on the interior, Penn State is losing key pieces, too.
Dvon J-Thomas and Coziah Izzard are out of eligibility. Hakeem Beamon left the team before the regular season concluded. Losing Durant would have been crippling to the defensive line as a whole, but more specifically on the interior, where depth is already an issue.
The returnees
Durant (658), J-Thomas (545) and Izzard (369) led Penn State’s defensive tackles in snaps this season. The next closest was Alonzo Ford (186). Ford is dealing with a long-term injury, and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready for the start of the 2025 season.
Beyond Durant and Ford, no other returning Penn State defensive tackle logged more snaps than true freshman Xavier Gilliam (55). Second-year Ty Blanding logged 53 snaps. Reserve veteran Kaleb Artis played 23 snaps while true freshman De’Andre Cook saw three snaps.
Behind Durant, this is an inexperienced group. That’s why the Nittany Lions, who missed on eventual Miami signee David Blay, tried bringing defensive tackle help via the portal.
Durant will be needed on the field as a disruptor. But entering his senior season, he’ll be needed off the field to mentor a young defensive tackle group. Teammates and coaches have expressed over the last year that Durant has grown as a leader, setting a strong example for those in the locker room. And he’ll have to continue to do that.