Penn State Nittany Lions' Zane Durant recently accepted his invite to the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl this week.
As the Penn State Nittany Lions continue to prepare for the team’s Pinstripe Bowl matchup against the Clemson Tigers, one of the program’s veteran leaders is making huge progress in his attempt to play at the next level during the 2026 season.
Just one day after his announcement to opt out of the team’s bowl game, it was reported that star defensive tackle Zane Durant will participate in the Panini Senior Bowl before the 2026 NFL Draft.
Durant, a four-star prospect coming out of Lake Nona High School, was part of the Nittany Lions’ historic 2022 recruiting class. However, it would take him a full season to find his role amongst the defense, as he became a key piece of the unit during his junior season.
In 2024, Durant finished with 42 tackles and three sacks, which became a career high for the young talent. His dominant play last season helped him gain traction with NFL scouts, but similar to a majority of his peers, Durant would return to State College for his final season.
Unfortunately for the senior, he saw a decline in production while under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles in 2025, as he would play in just eight of the team’s 12 games this year. Durant finished his final season with 24 tackles and four sacks, proving himself to NFL scouts.
Now, Durant finds himself amongst a crowded defensive tackle class in the 2026 NFL Draft. He is currently the No. 19 defensive tackle on PFF’s 2026 Big Board, as well as the No. 237-ranked player in the class.
Part of the concern regarding the Nittany Lions’ veteran is his size and how it will translate at the professional level. At 6-foot-1, 294 lbs., Durant’s frame and arm length will be a red flag for NFL teams, with his current build being an outlier for the defensive tackle position.
Luckily for him, his ability to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks will help his case heading into April. Durant had the fourth-highest pressure rate from the defensive tackle position in the Big 10 Conference this year, according to PFF.