Penn State's Zane Durant, of Lake Nona, awaits destination in NFL draft

Zane Durant is considered undersized for a defensive tackle. Yes, it’s funny to think that a guy who is 6-foot-1 and 290 pounds is undersized, but by NFL standards that’s what Durant faces as he waits to hear his name called this week during the NFL draft.

The former Lake Nona star, who went on to do big things at Penn State, is expecting to go somewhere in between the third and fifth rounds. For him, it doesn’t really matter when or where he goes.

“It is what it is. It’s an opportunity, and that’s all I really need,” Durant said. “It’s a blessing. I’m extremely grateful for it, and I worked my tail off just to have the opportunity to be in the conversation to be drafted.

“To me, it’s exciting and I’m ready for it.”

He’s come a long way since his high school. He was named a preseason All-American before his 2025 senior season at Penn State, where he started 40 of 41 games.

Durant added 30-plus pounds in college but his height didn’t change. He did take major strides in improvement.

“Man, a large amount,” Durant said. “At Lake Nona, I was a young buck and just ready to work. I just stayed true to myself and it made me better as a man and also, my football technique and everything has grown a lot.”

He laughed when told he was a lot bigger than his high school days.

“Yeah, I been eating a lot of steaks and drinking chocolate milks,” he said.

Durant will cherish the memories of his days in College Station. He was part of the Nittany Lions’ run in 2024 that ended in the College Football Playoffs semifinals with a 27-24 loss to Notre Dame.

“It was fun. All of the guys I came in with, that was kind of our last hurrah, before different people left for the draft,” Durant said. “That was the best season by far. We were all bought in and we played well together. We knew what the goal was and we stayed committed to it.”

He will also remember the Pennsylvania winters.

“It was cold, man. It was cold as a mug,” Durant said. “But at the end of the day, it was fun. You are competing against the best athletes in America week in and week out and it made me better just competing against them.

“And at Penn State, the coaches were second to none.”

Durant was at Penn State when the NCAA began allowing NIL deals for athletes, so he probably didn’t receive the full financial benefits of what he might have if he was entering college and brokering an NIL deal from the beginning. He did, however, get paid.

“Yeah, it was crazy, man. Coming in, we didn’t really have NIL figured out at Penn State,” Durant said. “But as my years started going, it started getting bigger and bigger.

“I think it’s a blessing for the athletes to be able to make money off their name and great for college sports.”

Lake Nona DL Zane Durant surprises family, commits to Penn State

Durant said he definitely took advantage.

“It made everything easier, especially getting my people up to games,” he said. “You know, getting people up from Florida to Penn State is expensive for every game, so they didn’t really come up to every game my freshman year.

“But as soon as I started making NIL, I was able to help out and get people up to some of my games. I think that was a big part of how NIL helped me a lot.”

Durant credits his parents, Rogina and Marcus Durant, for giving him the support he needed to be successful.

“It was how I was raised and it’s the principles and morals that I stand on. I really take that to everything I do in life, football and off the field. When I stay true to that process, everything always comes to light, whatever my goal is.

“I just continue to stay the same person and not get too big of a head.”

Now he waits. By the time Sunday comes, he thinks he’ll be able to say he’s in the NFL.

“It’s gonna be a big moment for me,” Durant said. “Hearing my name called has been a goal of mine ever since I started playing football at Lake Nona, so for me it’s gonna be really huge.

“For this to actually come to fruition is exciting for me.”

Two other Orlando-area products will also likely be drafted. Former Mount Dora receiver Reggie Virgil, who was an All-MAC selection at Miami of Ohio before transferring to Texas Tech last season, is expected to be picked somewhere between the fifth and seventh rounds.

Former Foundation Academy defensive end Brian Thomas Jr. could very easily be signed as an undrafted free agent.

Chris Hays can be found on X.com@OS_ChrisHays.

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