Three Penn State football standouts, AJ Harris, Zane Durant, and Vega Ioane, made the watchlists for two different awards, the organizations announced on Tuesday. The first of the awards was the Outland Trophy, with both Durant and Ioane making the watchlist.

Outland Trophy Watch List

Awarded annually to the Best Interior Lineman in College Football #WeAre x @NagurskiTrophy pic.twitter.com/0XHF6eqsMg

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) July 29, 2025

The Outland Trophy is awarded annually to the best interior lineman in college football, regardless of what side of the ball you play on. Notable past winners include Ndamukong Suh, Aaron Donald, Ed Oliver, and Penei Sewell. Mike Reid, a former Nittany Lion defensive end in 1969, is the only Penn State player to win the award.

Durant is entering his senior season, widely regarded as one of the top two defensive tackles in the country, with only Clemson’s Peter Woods finding himself above the Nittany Lion on some lists. In 2024, the Lake Nona, Florida, native had 42 total tackles, three sacks, and one pass deflected.

Ioane is in a similar position as one of the top returning offensive linemen in the country. In 2024, the Graham, Washington, native started all 16 games for the Nittany Lions and made the All-Big Ten second team while not allowing a sack against West Virginia, USC, Washington, Purdue, or Maryland.

Durant also joined Harris on the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, an award given to the best defensive player in all of college football.

Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List

Awarded annually to the Best Defensive Player in College Football#WeAre x @NagurskiTrophy pic.twitter.com/zq8zA4isNQ

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) July 29, 2025

Harris was voted All-Big Ten third team by the coaches and media in 2024 after making 15 starts and 16 appearances throughout the season. The junior cornerback had 48 tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception, and five pass breakups in 2024 and has been linked to the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.