Penn State football defensive tackle Zane Durant has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft, he announced on social media Monday night. He is opting out of the Pinstripe Bowl against Clemson.

Durant played in all 54 games of his Penn State career. He committed to the Nittany Lions in July 2021 as a four-star recruit out of Orlando, Florida. Durant was a top-50 player in the state at the time of his commitment, per 247Sports’ Composite rankings.

The Lake Nona High School product registered one sack in his 2022 true freshman campaign before taking on a starting role in 2023. However, he really burst onto the scene in 2024. Durant had a career year behind a strong partnership with former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen, recording a career-best 11 tackles-for-loss and three sacks.

He chose to return to Happy Valley instead of the NFL Draft after the Nittany Lions’ College Football Playoff exit to further solidify himself as one of Penn State’s leaders on the defensive front.

Durant set another career-best in sacks with four in his senior season, bringing his Penn State total to 10. He registered 89 tackles, 22 tackles-for-loss, and one fumble recovery in his time in Happy Valley. He stole his first career interception off Chubba Purdy in the first quarter of Penn State’s season-opening win over Nevada.

Durant is Penn State’s first player to declare for the draft and opt out of the Pinstripe Bowl.