Defensive Star Announces Return to Penn State Football for 2025 Season
On the heels of Penn State Football’s 27-24 loss to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl this week, head coach James Franklin and the Nittany Lions are now shifting their focus to the 2025 season.
With the deadline to declare for the NFL Draft just days away, Penn State will have a good idea of who from the 2024 roster will be returning to the Nittany Lions in 2025 and who will be forgoing their eligibility and heading to the NFL.
On Saturday morning, Penn State got a pleasant surprise with one of the Nittany Lions’ top defensive playmakers announcing his return to the Nittany Lions in 2025.
Zane Durant Commits to Return to Penn State in 2025
Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant announced his intention to return to the Nittany Lions for the 2025 season on Saturday.
After a stellar season starting at defensive tackle for the Nittany Lions, Zane Durant’s NFL draft stock could have been high enough to persuade the junior from Lake Nona, Florida to forgo his senior season.
In 2024, Durant recorded 42 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, three sacks, and defended a pass, starting all 16 games for the Nittany Lions. In his three year career in Happy Valley, Durant has 64 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, and six sacks.
Franklin and the Penn State coaching staff are very high on Durant’s abilities and what he brings to the table for Penn State.
In October, Franklin gave Durant a special shoutout, saying “I don’t know the last time we’ve had a defensive tackle as disruptive as Zane.”
Later in the month, Franklin mentioned that Durant (and safety Jaylen Reed) were leading the defense “verbally and through their play” arguing that both deserve more national attention than they received this season.
Durant’s return is a huge piece of the puzzle for Penn State for the 2025 season.
Fellow defensive tackles Coziah Izzard and Dvon J Thomas are out of eligibility and will not return in 2025. Former Old Dominion transfer Alonzo Ford was injured in November and could return to the Nittany Lions in 2025. Durant is a talented starter and will be a key leader on Penn State’s defense in 2025.
Penn State now awaits decisions from a number of other players to put the final touches on the Nittany Lions roster for 2025. Durant is a key piece of the star-studded 2022 class, which could have a few more playmakers return to Penn State next season.
MORE Penn State Football News from NittanyCentral:
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- Abdul Carter Makes his NFL Draft Decision
- Tyler Warren Mock Draft Roundup: Top Destinations for Penn State Star TE
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- Defensive Star Announces Return to Penn State Football for 2025 Season - January 11, 2025
- Penn State LB Abdul Carter Announces NFL Draft Decision - January 10, 2025
- Can Penn State Football “Run it Back in 2025” after 27-24 Orange Bowl Loss? - January 9, 2025