Which Penn State defender has the full attention of Heisman Runner-Up Ashton Jeanty?

Penn State football will face perhaps its toughest test of the season on the ground Tuesday evening when the Nittany Lions defense sets out to contain prolific Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty.

With nearly 2,500 yards and 30 scores, the Heisman Runner-Up has been the talk of college football all fall. But inside the Boise State locker room, the conversation is centered on a Nittany Lion who has quietly been an anchor of the Penn State defense in 2024.

While star edge rusher Abdul Carter may be the focus of many outsiders when looking at Penn State football on the defensive side of the line, for Jeanty, its junior defensive tackle Zane Durant who stands out. Speaking at Fiesta Bowl media day on Sunday, the standout Broncos tailback explained why Durant has garnered so much attention ahead of Tuesday’s College Football Playoff Quarterfinal matchup.

“I know the interior guys kind of get overlooked,” Jeanty said when speaking of the Penn State defensive front. “But to me, Zane Durant, 28, he’s a baller. Me and [running backs] Coach [James] Montgomery, we’ve been talking about him since we’ve been game-planning. He’s a great player. He’s going to give us a run for our money.”

© Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2024.

Durant comes into the Fiesta Bowl ranked seventh on the team with 38 tackles. However, he’s second only to Carter in tackles for loss, racking up 10 – including three sacks – so far this season.

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“He’s explosive, man. Getting off blocks.,” Jeanty continued. “Not too many D-linemen have shifts to make the mid guys miss and being forced in the run game and getting to the quarterback.

“Then you see his effort. He’s chasing down on the backside of plays, making plays for his team. So, he’s just a great all-around player.”

It will be a classic strength-on-strength matchup when the Boise State offense takes the field. The Broncos rank fifth in the country, averaging 250.5 rushing yards per game. But Ashton Jeanty will clash with the equally talented Nittany Lions run defense, ranking seventh nationally, allowing just 100.4 yards per contest.

Penn State football and the Boise State Broncos will kick off from Glendale, Arizona, in the 2024 Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. ET. The playoff matchup will air on ESPN.

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