Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1528325
2 8 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M know that. The NFL scouts know that. Our coaching staff knows it. Our players know it." Stat junkies might be starting to figure it out, too. Durant isn't going to chal- lenge for school records, but his numbers through six games were more reflective of his impact than they were earlier in the season. He went into the Wisconsin game with 2.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries, ranking second on the team in both categories. Among defensive line- men, his 77.0 pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus trailed only Carter's 85.0 mark. Durant also has been a force against the run, ranking second on the team behind Carter with 5.5 tackles for loss. Given how effective he's been against both the run and the pass, it's not sur- prising that Durant boasts the team's highest overall defensive grade (87.0) from PFF. Allen, who came to Penn State from Indiana last December, said he was im- pressed with Durant's approach through- out the team's offseason strength pro- gram. His on-field success this year has stemmed from the determined attitude he brings to all facets of the game. "His mindset is that he's just going to dominate whoever is across from him every single snap, no matter what the call is, whether he's moving, not moving, playing vertical, playing lateral, playing whatever," Allen said. "He's a huge part of our defense, and he's going to con- tinue to be. "You had better double-team that guy. You had better have an answer for him. You had better know where he's at. He's just another piece that creates issues for the offense." Keeping It Simple Durant's performance this year is the culmination of a growth process that began when he arrived at Penn State in January 2022 as a four-star recruit out of Lake Nona (Fla.) High. He had been pursued by all the major schools in his home state, including Miami, which was coached at the time by his future Penn State defensive coordinator, Manny Diaz. But he had bonded with Franklin and a couple of his assistants, Florida recruit- ing specialist Ja'Juan Seider and the team's defensive line coach at the time, John Scott Jr. PSU's coaches saw Durant in the mold of Kevin Givens, a seemingly under- sized defensive tackle from Altoona who ended up starting 22 games at Penn State before moving on to a pro career with the San Francisco 49ers. Listed at 260 pounds when he signed in December 2021, Durant still had some growing to do, but he turned heads in practice right away and emerged that spring as a freshman to watch. He went on to play in all 13 games as a true fresh- man and joined the starting lineup the Durant joined Penn State's starting lineup as a sophomore last season. He's since developed into one of the Lions' most reliable defenders and had the team's highest overall defen- sive grade (87.0) from Pro Football Focus at the season's halfway point. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL