IDL defeated Patrick Mahomes

ByNBAUSA


Penn State football sent nine players to The NFL Combine including star quarterback Drew Allar. But Zane Durant’s defensive tackle emerged as a surprising result on Thursday. Including beating the previous one Patrick Mahomes mark.

Durant took his pitching seriously at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis by posting these unusual numbers:

But his 40-yard dash time drew a significant comparison. As noted by NFL Network, Durant surpassed Patrick Mahomes with his 40 times, plus another All-Pro quarterback.

NFL teams are going to fall in love with Durant’s true speed that he just showed. Especially a defense that needs help in the pass rush. Durant just showed that he can outrun a young Prescott and Mahomes.

But has the Penn State IDL already picked up a lot of pre-draft buzz? He was not the most desirable prospect entering the 2026 combine.

What scouts initially said about Penn State’s Zane Durant before the Combine

Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Zane Durant (28) celebrates against the Boise State Broncos during the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Draft pundits weren’t particularly thrilled with Durant’s move to India.

NFL Network analyst Lance Zierlein called him “an average backup or special teamer” while giving up this grade:

“Twitchy 3-technique with rare short-court speed. Durant’s disruptive potential is maximized in slant/twist schemes, where he can use his lateral quickness to beat zone blocks, slide into gaps and follow screens. His small frame and short arms make him a sitting duck as a static defender, however, Zee wrote.”

The draft analyst added, “His quick moves need to be sharpened and honed to give him the best chance to become a rotating, sub-package 3-technique on the front end of plays.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder liked Durant’s speed and athleticism. But his 6-foot-1, 290-pound frame has raised concerns.

Durant is one of the last defenders from the James Franklin era. He also played on a PSU team that advanced to the 2024 College Football Playoff semifinals.

He quickly changed the narrative about himself after his crazy combine outing. This presents an opportunity to shoot at NFL draft the boards move forward.





2026-02-26 22:42:00

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