Lions move into top three for Florida DT Zane Durant

Penn State welcomed Orlando, Fla., defensive tackle Zane Durant to campus this past weekend for his first and likely only look at University Park.

A four-star prospect from Lake Nona High School, Durant previously took unofficial visits to Miami and UCF during the first week of June, and he followed that up with an official visit to Indiana, June 11-13. Now, it was Penn State’s turn to show he and his parents what they have to offer.

“The family atmosphere was the first thing we really discussed as a family,” Durant said, when asked what he and his parents liked the most about his visit.

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“Coach [James] Franklin and the whole staff really brought me in. They really preach that atmosphere and it’s real down there. They were genuine in everything they said and they don’t preach any crap. Everyone is really close together there. Also, I thought the facilities were incredible. Penn State is one of the best schools in the nation. Their stadium is amazing. I like the education they can provide there, too. It really holds weight, so after football, and if I can’t go to the NFL, I’ll still be able to get a great job.”

Leading into the visit, Durant said that his relationship with defensive line coach John Scott Jr. really took off after he was offered in January. He felt good about Scott personally, but wanted to learn more about what he could offer from a development standpoint.

“Coach Scott is a real genuine man and he’s put guys into the NFL. He has a history of developing defensive linemen and getting them to reach their best,” Durant said. “Some of them have even gone to the NFL in the first round. He was comparing me to Kevin Givens, who’s a former Penn State defensive lineman who went to the San Francisco 49ers. They think I’m a great fit for them at the three-technique. I also like Coach [Deion] Barnes. He’s my dog. He used to play at Penn State and then went to the NFL. We relate well.”

Durant was hosted by one of the most popular players on the team, redshirt junior defensive tackle Aeneas Hawkins.

“He brought me in and showed great hospitality,” Durant said. “I thought he was a really cool, funny guy. He also explained some of the ins and outs of the program. I feel like everyone up there loves the school, loves the coaches.”

The opportunity to spend time with James Franklin was also a keep part of the visit, and he liked that the head coach was very involved throughout.

“He never tried to sell me anything. The entire time, he just kept it real with us and showed us what they can offer,” Durant said. “He did tell me that they really want me there, that they need me there, but it’s also my decision to make and stuff like that. He did ask me and my parents if they could realistically see me coming there and we told him that we could see that.”

Durant now has one official visit remaining, which is a return trip to South Florida to spend the weekend with Manny Diaz and his staff. As of now, the Nittany Lions appear to be one of the two or three schools he’ll decide between, and the goal is to wrap up his recruitment next month.

“Penn State is definitely a top school for me, top three. They’re very high on my board," Durant said. "I’m still sorting through schools. I have Miami coming up this weekend. I also have Indiana, Tennessee and UCF, so I need to think about things more, but Penn State is right there after this visit.”

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