Zane Durant Hits Reset Button at Senior Bowl, Looks to Reignite NFL Draft Stock
MOBILE, Ala. - If you were watching the first day of Senior Bowl practice, you probably noticed No. 91 exploding off the line. That was Zane Durant, and the Penn State defensive tackle looked right at home under the Alabama sun - and back in his element.
Durant wasn’t just participating; he was making a statement.
He brought the same energy and edge that once made him one of the most disruptive interior defenders in the Big Ten. Whether it was splitting double teams or slipping past guards with a quick first step, Durant looked every bit like a player with something to prove - and the skill set to back it up.
This week in Mobile is a big one for Durant, and he knows it. After a senior season that didn’t quite match the expectations he set with a breakout 2024 campaign, the Senior Bowl offers a clean slate - and a national stage.
“I just want to show my skill set,” Durant said. “I know what I’ve got.
Penn State knows what I’ve got. People in that building know what I’ve got.
So I just want to showcase to the NFL scouts and show them who I am as a man, on the field and off the field.”
And that’s exactly what he did on Tuesday. Durant was disruptive from the jump, flashing the burst and hand violence that once had draft analysts penciling him in as a potential Day 1 pick. In a setting where every rep is scrutinized by NFL front offices, Durant made sure his stood out.
For Durant, this week is about more than just drills and interviews - it’s about rebuilding momentum.
Let’s rewind for a second. In 2024, Durant was a force.
He totaled 11 tackles for loss, the second-most by any defensive tackle in the Big Ten. He was living in opponents’ backfields and looked poised to take another leap in 2025.
But that leap never quite came.
This past season, Durant’s production dipped. He managed just 4.5 tackles for loss and had only one quarterback pressure through the first four games.
There were flashes - a two-sack showing at UCLA, a handful of pressures against Indiana - but the consistency wasn’t there. For a player with first-round buzz, it was a frustrating year.
“I don’t think it was my best foot forward,” Durant admitted. “But God gave me the opportunity to play football. All I can do is learn from it and grow from it.”
That attitude - grounded, accountable, and forward-looking - is part of what makes Durant intriguing to NFL teams. He knows the numbers didn’t pop this season. But he also knows what he’s capable of when he’s healthy and locked in.
And that’s what this week is all about.
Durant opted out of Penn State’s bowl game to get right physically, spending time training in Arizona with teammate Dani Dennis-Sutton. Now, he’s healthy, refreshed, and ready to remind scouts why he was once one of the most talked-about defensive linemen in the country.
As of now, Durant isn’t listed among ESPN’s top 100 prospects for the 2026 draft. He’s ranked No. 131 overall by NFL Mock Draft Database, with a fourth-round projection. But the Senior Bowl has a long history of reshaping draft narratives, and Durant is looking to be the latest example.
“I’m trying to dominate in every aspect that I can,” he said. “Just dominate.”
And if Tuesday was any indication, he’s on the right track. The drills will get tougher, the competition will ramp up, and the game on Saturday will offer another chance to shine. But Durant’s already done what he needed to do on Day 1: turn heads.
Now it’s about stacking those days - and turning potential into proof.