Zane Durant Opts Out of Pinstripe Bowl, Declares for NFL Draft

It’s the end of the road for one Nittany Lion.

On Monday afternoon, Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant announced on Instagram he’s opting out of the Pinstripe Bowl and will declare for this year’s NFL draft after exhausting his eligibility. The senior had the opportunity to declare a year ago and was part of a large contingent of Nittany Lions who returned for this season.

Durant has a wide range of draft projections, but the general consensus is he’ll be selected in the mid-to-late rounds. He finished the season with 25 tackles, four sacks, two passes defended and an interception. Last season, he had 42 tackles, three sacks and a pass breakup.

“I want to thank Penn State for the memories and experiences that it has given me,” Durant said in the post. “I would like to thank coach Deion, coach Manny, coach Dex, coach Scott, coach Allen and coach Terry … I want to thank coach Franklin for giving me the opportunity to attend Penn State, and for being a mentor and example to me.”

He’s the first of what’s expected to be many opt outs on both sides ahead of the bowl game, which pits preseason top-five Penn State and Clemson against each other on Dec. 27 at Yankee Stadium. Both teams have talented rosters littered with draft-eligible players who may prioritize health over the bowl.