STATE COLLEGE — Zane Durant tweeted out his final stats for his senior season at Lake Nona (Fla.), and it was easy to need to read through the list a couple of times: 28 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, 38 quarterback hurries.
That’s a lot to take in, especially for a 6-foot-1, 255-pound defensive tackle. But then there were the five offensive touchdowns. No matter what side of the ball he was on, Durant made an impact. And Durant is bringing that north to State College after signing his national letter of intent with Penn State on Wednesday during National Signing Day.
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Just ask Durant’s high school coach at Lake Nona.
“Zane is the best player I’ve ever coached,” Anthony Paradiso told USA Today. “He’s a generational kid. From day one, his work ethic, his attitude, his preparation, his character set his apart. In a day and age when so many kids pick up and leave, he’s committed to his teammates and his coaches.
“He’s the kind of kid you want in the locker room. I’ve never had a kid start for me and play as a freshman the way he did. From day one, he was a special talent.”
Here’s where Durant ranks according to recruiting services:
- 247Sports composite: 4 stars; No. 37 in FL; No. 39 DL; No. 299 overall
- 247Sports: 3 stars; No. 41 in FL; No. 46 DL
- Rivals: 4 stars; No. 39 in FL; No. 21 DT
- ESPN: 4 stars; No. 36 in FL; No. 21 DT; No. 271 overall
- On3: 3 stars; No. 46 in FL; No. 41 DL
- On3 consensus: 4 stars; No. 36 in FL; No. 39 DL; No. 310 overall
Durant’s physical profile seems to indicate that he’ll need to develop a bit physically upon his arrival at Penn State. But there are also plenty of traits that are intriguing. His highlight tape even shows him covering punts. There’s a lot to take in.
Durant committed to Penn State on the Fourth of July to help kick off the month’s major run on commitments. He picked the Nittany Lions over Miami (Fla.), UCF and Indiana.
Daniel Gallen covers Penn State for PennLive. He can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Follow PennLive’s Penn State coverage on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.