Steelers Draft Interview: Penn State DT Zane Durant
Steelers Now caught up with Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant at the 2026 NFL combine. #steelers #herewego #nflCONNECT WITH STEELERS NOW:Steelers Now: https://steelersnow.comSN on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pghsteelersnowSN on FB: https://facebook.com/steelersnowSN on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/pghsteelersnow/
Video Transcript
Zay, how's been the overall experience for you so far here at the NFL Combine?
Yo, man, just gratitude, man.
I'm grateful for the opportunity, to showcase my, talent and, support Penn State at the same time.
Which emoji would you use to describe yourself?
Using the emoji, I'd probably use the, fast emoji, lightning bolt.
And why would you pick that emoji?
Why?
'cause I'm, I'm twitchy, explosive.
Zay, and how does that speed help you in the NFL?
Yo, I mean, it shows off on tape, my get off, how fast I can get in and off of blocks and also chase down the ball.
What were your goals going into the Senior Bowl, and- Yeah how do you feel you did in achieving those?
Yo, I mean, it was really just to stay relevant, showing what, who I really am.
You know, I had a down year last year, not up to my expectations, but just kind of reminding who I am and what my assets are and using the best of my ability.
Talk to me about your relationship with Cassius Marsh and kind of what he's meant to you this year, how that has helped you.
Yeah, I mean, that just showed me like it's a business.
It's a part of the game.
That's what come with it.
So me being a younger, younger guy, going in my senior year, just learning that, taking that into the NFL, I think it'll help me a lot going into this business.
You talk to your girlfriend about that at all?
Yeah, I talk to girlfriend all the time.
That's my guy.
Zay, when you're looking, you know, the interior defensive tackle spot, there's guys like Tino Adam that have kind of paved the way.
For you, when you look at the defensive line, especially the pass rush, what do you love the most about being able to get to the quarterback?
Yeah, I mean, man, rushing the, rushing the, the passer inside is a game changer.
I mean, you seen it this year in the, Super Bowl this past year.
Brian Murphy was very effective, and that changed the game for them.
So just being able to have some, some pressure inside to help the quarterback step back and allow edge rushers to make plays as well, as well as the D tackles.
Zay, you know, success is like You can measure success in many different ways.
Yeah.
For you- Yeah what would a successful NFL career mean for you?
Yeah, man, I mean, just helping my organization, whatever organization I, I end up in, just helping as much as possible and being, being a guy off the field that's also known as one, one of the more, more active guys off the field, and just being who I am, man, showcasing my talent set a- and who I am as a man.
Zay, what are you looking to prove to NFL teams over the course of these next few days?
Yeah, man, I mean, showing what I got, man.
You know, I'm from Florida, so I'm a fast cat, explosive, twitchy, and I, and I'm very powerful, so I just wanna show those guys who I am.
Who gave you some of the best advice heading into this week?
Yo, yo, I mean, all the older guys from Penn State.
I talk to, Chop, one of my, my closest guys, J. Reid, K.J.
Winston, some of the guys I talked to about the process, and they said, man, be yourself.
Will you do all the workouts here or will you wait till you go to the Combine?
Yeah, the plan is to do them all here.
Yeah.
Zay, how many teams you talking to?
I don't know.
I ain't keep track.
Have you talked with Steve Spagnuolo?
not here, at the Senior Bowl I did.
Yeah.
How was that impression?
How was that impression with him?
I mean, it, it was, it was a great guy, man, great man, somebody from Quak.
we got a player that, that, that's related to him, so it was good meeting him in person and, and kind of putting a name to a face.
Zay, have you, uh- Yeah, I have done your workout for the NFL yet?
informal.
Yeah.
Was that at the Senior Bowl?
Is that where- Senior Bowl.
Yeah.
Zay, have you talked to the Eagles?
yeah.
Yeah.
Was that here or Senior Bowl?
Yeah, it was here.
Here, okay.
Yeah, in the Senior Bowl.
Oh, looking back on your decision to come back to Penn State- Yeah what's the biggest thing, you got out of last year, that you feel is gonna put you in a better position now than you would've been had you come out earlier?
Yeah, I mean, handling adversity, man.
You know, Penn State, we did a lot of winning in my first two years, so losing was a thing that I wasn't really comfortable with or used to.
So I think last year that prepared me for the, the next step and just being able to be aware before things happen and get too late.
Have you tried to block out the routine from the media that say you're a second-round pick?
Have you tried to block all that out?
Yeah, stay off the media.
I mean, that, that's, that's about it.
You get Everybody gonna post what they want.
I mean, everybody got that right, so I just stay off of it.
What about friends and family?
Have they been telling you where you might be selected?
Oh yeah, yeah.
I tell them, "Don't tell me nothing, man.
I'm locked in, tunnel vision."
Zay, with how, how Drew Aller's season- Yeah ended short and how he's gonna be throwing here this year, are you excited to see what he does in this process?
Yeah, man, that's my dawg, man.
Y'all know he can sling the ball, so he, I just want him to go out there and showcase what he is and what he gonna do at, the Combine.
We're gonna talk, you know, to Dan, Dan Sciver a little bit.
Okay.
What is, you know, your opinion on him as a player and just, you know, talk about your experience playing with him.
Yeah, man.
He was absent all last year.
Yeah.
I mean, he fired up, play with great, great, great passion, great motor.
that's my roommate too, so I know him off the field, so yeah, that's my guy.
he gonna give y'all a show.
He gonna show his ability at the Combine, and I, I s- I hope he impress everybody.
Best of luck.
Yeah, thank you.
Back to you really quick.
When, when he got hurt, you know- Yeah what was his leadership like from that point on throughout the rest of the season when he was done for the year- Yeah and the impact that you've seen around the team there?
Yeah, yeah, just him, just him play with pride, man.
So we did a lot of work in the off-season, man, coming together and working hard, so he didn't want nothing to go waste just 'cause he got hurt.
So one of the biggest things for, for Chris and the team is play for your brothers and play, play for each other.
How would you endorse Drew as a player and a person in this process?
Yeah, I mean, e- everything speaks for itself.
What he did in the Penn State community, all the events that he did, and even just helping us out as players and teammates, giving us different things and leading us to the season that we had in the past, man, that, that's show enough about him.
You gonna see his physical attributes at this Combine.
Zay, what has been the biggest feedback that you got following your Senior Bowl week and just your career as a whole that coaches really like about your game?
Yeah, I mean, my get off is the first thing they talk about, my motor they say could be better, but they say everything that I play with, the, the fire that I play with, how fun I play and, and the intensity I play with is something that they're excited about.
What are you most excited about as far as skill-wise in future plays or techniques?
Yeah, I'd say my technique, man.
The pass rush game show.
When I first came in, I was really, I was really rough, young, just running around the quarterback, but I think my technique honed in, the past four years and also in the run game became more dominant.
Have you met with the Buccaneers formally or informally yet?
No, not here.
But have you met with the Buccaneers?
No, I have not.
Where you guys, where you guys were headed at the beginning of the season- Yeah and where it ended for you guys was, I mean, such a wide gap, you had so much happen.
Yeah.
What have you learned about managing expectations this year?
Yeah, I mean, you gotta block it out, man.
You gotta play football for the love of the game, keep it simple, just have fun, man.
We had, we had too many guys worrying about the wrong things, you know?I'll take credit for that because I'm the captain of the team, but just playing ball, man.
Having fun, playing free, and playing fast.
Yes.
Like you said, whatever point in the wrong tempo, I mean- Worry about what, the media says and all those things that hype your expectations.
So what's the Zane Durant game that you want, you know, people to know before I send you to the league?
If somebody's discovering your game for the first time, how would you introduce yourself?
Yo.
Yo.
Illinois from twenty twenty-three would probably be my most developed game.
Okay.
And why would you, why are you most proud about that game?
I mean, I, I had a lot of plays that I made, my motor was relentless that game, so And what would you say is the biggest area of your game that you need to work on?
And have you met with the Bengals?
yeah, I have met with the Bengals.
And the, and the biggest area I think I need to improve on is just my effort to the ball, and also on the run game, quote unquote my dogma.
Is there anyone kind of your pattern was made after growing up?
Yo, I mean, y'all gotta know this.
I'm gonna say Aaron Donald, Kenny Clark, A. Allen, all the smaller guys.
Geno Atkins, John Randle.
A couple guys I watched, tried to model after, but those are guys that I watched.
Yeah.
Being at the next level, do you feel more comfortable in the three-four or a four-three scheme?
probably a four-three.
I mean, I played at Penn State for four years, so that's all I know.
you mentioned earlier, you weren't happy with how your last year went.
Yeah.
why, why were you disappointed in that?
I mean, I, I know I didn't put my best foot forward.
I know what I'm capable of.
I feel like it didn't, it wasn't up to my standard, so that's why I said that.
So you had a chance to meet the Rams.
What does that mean in like with coach this year?
Yeah, man, it was exciting, man.
Coach, Coach Klainherst was my coach at the Senior Bowl, so I got to meet him a lot.
and they said they were excited, man, you know, a guy that I grew up with.
I played against Jalen Carter in little league and been around the circle with him a little bit.
So I think it was exciting, just hear it from them and have a, a little bit of interest from them.
Have you guys talked, have you talked to Carter, you know, through this process or just in general?
No, I haven't talked to him.
Yeah, no, I haven't talked.
I called him when he was in the airport one time.
I taken a trip, I talked to him a little bit then, but I never talked to him lately.
What would it mean to, potentially join him?
You know, a guy that you played with in little league, so Yeah, yeah, man, it'll be a blessing, man.
I mean, a lot of guys from Florida and Orlando really don't team up together in the NFL, so just to be with him and know who he is as a guy will also be helpful for me in, in my career.
What did you learn from Klainherst?
obviously he's a great defensive line coach, defensive coordinator.
Yeah.
What'd you learn from him as a senior that, that connection that you guys built?
Yo, just, man, to have fun, have effort, and play fast and physical, man.
Let it go.
You know what I'm saying?
You gonna make mistakes, that's a part of football, but he says just play ball and have fun.
Who else from the AFC did you support in the Super Bowl other than Justin, Justin Herbert?
I talked with somebody, I forgot his name, but it was somebody.
It, it was a former newbie.
Okay.
What's, what's the most impressive thing you ever saw Vega do while you were teammates?
most impressive thing I seen him do?
I don't know.
I mean, I seen Vega do a lot of things.
I don't think nothing really un-unimpressive.
probably go against me in pass rush one-on-ones.
I mean, we always battling, it's go back and forth every time.
Who usually won?
Huh?
Who usually won those battles?
went back and forth.
We always went back and forth, yeah.
Zane, as a human studies major- Yeah.
You want to be a dietician?
Yeah, want to be.
So what, what motivated you to do that, and, what's your, what's your biggest recommendations for future students?
Yo, so me, I wanna be a dietician because I eat a lot.
I come from the South, so my auntie and my grandma used to cook a lot for me, so I wanted to kind of learn the way, the way to it.
And also, me being a, a high caliber athlete, I would have to watch what I eat, so I just want to get a little bit of information by myself before I ask for other people to help me out with that.
Do your teammates ask you for help in that?
No, they don't.
They don't.
'Cause they, they ain't gonna like what I cook.
Or, or like what they hear from me.
You know what I'm saying?
Is it hard to give up the southern food?
No, it's not.
I did, I did it at Penn State, so I did it for four years, so I think I'll be all right.
Zane, as someone who went up against Vega in practice every day, what makes him special?
Yo, I mean, I, I say his work ethic.
I mean, we've been together for four years.
I watched him grow from when we came in, we first came in together, and he's always stayed consistent with working through the process, and then results came later.
So I think his work ethic is what's gonna stand out.
So like the last year of say with two thousand and twenty- Yeah.
Like, like when coaches detected that this is his business, or did you already kind of know that it was like- Yeah.
You know what I'm saying?
Yeah, I mean, the older guys at Penn State tell you it's a business.
That's one thing they always say.
But I mean, that, that also just going through it also give you experience going through it.
So, yeah, I already kinda knew what it was, but first hand, first, first person going through it was kinda different.
How has this process been for you so far?
Because obviously- Yeah.
You got pro days coming up in thirty days exactly.
Yeah, man, it's exciting, man.
I mean, I dreamed of this since I was a kid.
it's a blessing.
I'm just grateful for this opportunity to capitalize on it right now.
And just, you know, man, transforming bodies in the way that people do in the NFL- Yeah.
Additional program really takes place.
Can you talk about like your own personal transformation as you've been working towards this?
Yeah, I mean, most of y'all don't notice, but I came in as a defensive end.
I was like two fifty, two sixty when I came in.
And Coach Lucy got me up to, as heavy as two ninety-seven.
Right now I'm like two ninety-four, so that speaks volumes to him.
That's gonna stay up.
Yeah.
Yeah, I mean, yeah, that's comfort for me right now.
Tell me about Taz Coleman.
You know, when did you realize he was gonna be legit?
I mean, Taz is athletic, man.
He used to play quarterback in high school, so him coming to d-defensive end, man, he be, he been flashing since he came in.
Workouts, being in the front of the line in sprints and conditioning and things of that nature.
So we always knew he was gonna be a gifted kid.
And who's a guy going back that I know said they had a lot of turnover- Yeah.
Something that we can, we'll be talking about next year at this time at Penn State?
From Penn State right now?
Yeah.
Oh, I'd probably say Cam Wallace, running back that we had.
he flashed a lot last year, got hurt, but I think this year he'll turn it on for us.
Who's the toughest guy you saw in a game this past spring?
Toughest guy?
Pro- I'll probably say, Al Zar from Seven.
What stood out about him?
he was physical.
They, they played well together, too, with, on double teams and on outside zone.
They, they played tough against him.
What about like Marcus Smith?
Who do you think is the toughest guy?
Yo, I mean, Quentin the Dog.
Everybody know that Quentin came in after Cam, but I feel like Cam put in the work, and that's one of my guys that I hang with off the field, so I think it's time, time for him to ball.
What did it mean for Penn State to bring back Terry Smith?
How do you think that helps the team?
Yeah, I think, I think that's major, man.
I mean, Terry Smith know everybody at Penn State, and kind of was a key holder to us last year, with all that adversity that we had.
So I think bringing him back was kind of a must to keep the, the tradition and the culture of Penn State intact.
What did it mean to be able to win the last three games, get to a bowl game, even a fourth game, after what you guys faced and the injuries that you had?
Yo, I mean, that speaks to the culture, man.
We just never gave up.
Always kept fighting.
That's, that, that just speaks volume to what Penn State is and what we represent.
You guys lost, I think, five out of your six games by one score.
Yeah.
One by one point.
Yeah.
How, how tough is that, and, and how did you guys respond to that adversity?
'Cause a lot of teams could've just said, "Forget it.
We're done."
Yo, I mean, lo-losing ain't fun no matter how much you lose by.
having that L on, on the win spread sheet is not, not fun to have, so.
I mean, every week we just try to get better and try to end up with a W at the end of the week.
What did it say for this culture- Yeah.
To bounce back and get those wins?
Yo, I mean, it mean a lot.
We, when you're down and you fight through adversity and come back, oh, it means a lot, and it speaks to the culture that Penn State's going into next year, next season, so I, it's putting guys to have, a good season next year.
What, what impresses you about Cam Wallace?
man, he, he's, he's a guy that's mentally tough.
I mean, he's been hit with a lot of adversity throughout his career, and he always just kept his head down and kept working.
So I, I think with his mindset that he has and how much he works, it's gonna be a great year for him.
Zane, so many of the guys you came in with to Penn State in twenty twenty-two- Yeah.
Shrew, Nick, Catron, Abdul, so many guys.
How full circle is it to now be here, particularly with most of those guys I said except for Abdul, to be here at the Combine together, seeing the kinda pinnacle of your career now come out professionally?
Yo, it's exciting, man.
I mean, we always talked about it coming in, like how we gonna be the best in America and always kinda come together and be the best class to come through Penn State, and we just worked, worked since we got in, and it, it speaks volumes to how many guys we got to draft this year.
Thanks, Zane.
Yeah, appreciate it.
Peace.
