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Penn State true sophomore standing out to James Franklin during spring ball

The Nittany Lions have a rising star in the middle of their defensive line.

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Zane Durant, Penn State football
Nov 12, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle Zane Durant (28) reacts following a sack on Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) (not pictured) during the first quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The Nittany Lions’ defense performed incredibly well a season ago under first-year defensive coordinator Manny Diaz. Now, heading into the 2023 Penn State football season, the Lions’ defense is looking loaded once again, with returning stars such as Kalen King (CB), Abdul Carter (LB), Chop Robinson (EDGE), and more. Still, Penn State has some question marks towards the interior of the defensive line; however, head coach James Franklin claims that rising sophomore defensive tackle Zane Durant is standing out during spring ball.

Penn State facing unknowns at D-Line

A year ago, Penn State football fans were excited about the return of PJ Mustipher to the lineup after he was out for most of 2021 with an injury. Now, for the first time since that 2021 season, Penn State must find a way to replace his presence in the middle of the defensive line. In a conference like the Big Ten, clogging up rushing lanes in the middle of the field is essential; in fact, the Nittany Lions got a bit of a lesson on why it’s so important to stop the run when Michigan crushed Penn State in Ann Arbor and gave up over 400 yards on the ground.

With a few guys still out due to injury right now, James Franklin is still piecing together who will start on the inside of Penn State’s defensive line, but Zane Durant stands out from the crowd.

Rising sophomore defensive tackle Zane Durant stepping up during spring ball

During last week’s media availability, James Franklin had a chance to address some of the program’s instability at defensive tackle when asked about his defensive line issues.

“Well, we’ve got some guys out, so that is factoring into it as well,” head coach James Franklin said on Tuesday. “I think Zane Durant is on a really good trajectory — I think you’ll see a big jump from his true freshman year. Kinda getting some reps to now and being a guy with a significant role, and he is putting really good weight on.

You look at him and he doesn’t necessarily look a lot heavier, but he’s put on really good weight, and he’s still lean and explosive and athletic. So [Zane] kind of fits what we are looking for so he is probably a guy that has stood out as much as anybody — we’re really looking forward to getting [the other defensive tackles] back … and we’ve got one D-tackle that hasn’t arrived yet.”

Who is Zane Durant?

Zane Durant is a rising sophomore defensive tackle in the Blue and White and could find himself a solid role on the Penn State defense this fall. According to Penn State’s website, Durant has a 6-foot-1, 275-pound frame and appeared in all 13 of the Nittany Lions’ games during last year’s 11-2 campaign. Out of high school, 247 Sports ranked Durant as a four-star defensive tackle and pinned him as the No. 42 D-Tackle in the class and the No. 37 player in the state of Florida.

Heading into his second year of college football with James Franklin’s Penn State Nittany Lions, look for Durant to make the jump and fill a much-needed depth role at defensive tackle.



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New Penn State football commit says PSU can win national title

The newest Penn State football commit is gunning for a national title.

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Penn State football, Deryc Plazz, national title, 2024 recruiting class
Jan 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin celebrates with the trophy on the podium after the Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Today, Penn State football made an exciting addition to its 2024 recruiting class by securing the commitment of three-star offensive tackle Deryc Plazz from Florida. Shortly after joining the team, Plazz expressed his bold aspirations for Penn State’s future, confidently proclaiming that the program is poised to claim a future national title and more.

A future national title for Penn State football?

Freshly committed to Penn State football, Deryc Plazz wasted no time in immersing himself in the pursuit of the team’s first national championship since 1986. This promising three-star prospect from Florida showcased his ambitious mindset by sharing his optimistic vision for the future of football in Happy Valley.

“The current class is amazing and it’s truly a blessing to be a part of something this special,” Plazz said, according to Steve Wiltfong. “Looking to load this class up and bring a Natty to Happy Valley.”

Deryc Plazz, Penn State gunning to go above and beyond in the years to come

Plazz doesn’t just want to win a national title during his time at Penn State football, he believes that the Nittany Lions are on track to do so in the near future.

“What’s most exciting about the program is that we’re on track to win a National Championship and that’s the purpose of playing,” Plazz continued. “The opportunity to win a National Championship was the biggest thing. Just knowing that we will constantly be competitive in the college football playoff while and with this 24 class loading up I know we will definitely win it.”

A glass ceiling that needs to break

Currently, Penn State football is showing promising signs of being a strong contender for the Big Ten title and a spot in the College Football Playoff this upcoming season. Preseason polls from various outlets consistently rank the Nittany Lions within the range of No. 5-10, which is well-deserved considering their impressive 11-2 record and Rose Bowl victory under the leadership of James Franklin last year.

However, many projections still anticipate Penn State falling short against formidable opponents like Michigan and Ohio State, which would likely result in another New Year’s Six bowl appearance for the team.

While such a season would still be commendable, as being a top 10 program is an achievement in itself, it is encouraging to see the aspirations of Deryc Plazz and the rest of the 2024 recruiting class. Their desire to strive for greater success in the Blue and White during their tenure is a positive indicator of the program’s ambitions and the determination of its players, commits, and the team’s culture in the years to come.



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Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith joins PA-based sports talent firm

The Penn State WR is the third Nittany Lion to sign with the firm since May.

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Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Penn State Football, PA sports talent firm
Jan 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (1) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

On Saturday, it was announced that Penn State WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith had signed with Inch & Co. Sports, a new PA-based sports talent firm. Lambert-Smith becomes the third Penn State football player to sign with the firm in the last month. The founders of Inch & Co. Sports, John and Jeff Inch, and their larger network of PA-based companies, have become increasingly involved in Penn State’s NIL and athlete representation landscape over the last year.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith signs with PA-based sports talent firm

On Saturday evening, Inch & Co. Sports announced via its social media pages that the organization had signed KeAndre Lambert-Smith. The Penn State WR is coming off a budding end to the 2022 season, where he hauled in 8 catches for 207 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Nittany Lions’ final two games. Reporting out of spring practice indicated that Lambert-Smith had separated himself from the pack of Penn State receivers.

“He’s been really good so far this spring,” Penn State head coach James Franklin said. “We need him to be THE guy, a true number one [receiver], not just at Penn State but really in the [Big Ten] and a guy that people are talking about nationally.”

Inch & Co. Sports establishes itself in the Penn State football NIL landscape

Inch & Co. Sports is a York County, PA-based sports talent firm. The company’s founders, brothers John and Jeff Inch, are credited with starting “one of the fastest growing real estate construction companies in the U.S.” According to the firm’s website, its mission is “Representing our athletes with integrity and originality…Whether it’s giving back to the underprivileged, monetizing their image, or guiding them through a professional decision; building trust through honesty is our goal.”

KeAndre Lambert-Smith is the third Penn State football player to sign with the organization since May. The firm first signed QB Beau Pribula, who was a standout at York Central High School, on May 16. Inch & Co. added CB Johnny Dixon later in the month.

Over the last several months, the Inch & Co. network of companies has been establishing itself in the Penn State NIL landscape. In December, the company made headlines when it provided Teslas via a NIL partnership to four Nittany Lions – QB Drew Allar, LB Abdul Carter, CB Kalen King, and OT Olu Fashanu. Pribula was added to the partnership several weeks later.



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New Penn State football quarterback set to enroll early next spring

New Penn State football quarterback commit Ethan Grunkemeyer is set to enroll early next spring.

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New Penn State football quarterback commit
© Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

All Blue and White fans are clamoring about new Penn State football quarterback commit Ethan Grunkemeyer, who committed to the Nittany Lions late last month. Now, new reports are suggesting that Penn State’s new quarterback intends to enroll in the university early next spring and get extra time with the team and coaching staff ahead of the 2024 season.

Ethan Grunkemeyer set to enroll early

Ethan Grunkemeyer has been a heavily discussed topic among Penn State football fans. At first, a number of fans and talking heads jumped to conclusions, all voicing disappointment due to his three-star rating. However, upon closer observation, it becomes clear that this new 2024 QB may turn into something special as time goes on.

Grunkemeyer, like Drew Allar, committed to Penn State as a three-star but is expected to become a four-star or even better when all is said and done. In fact, Grunkemeyer earned a bid in State College last month and will be competing with the nation’s top quarterbacks at the Elite 11 finals.

“I’m just really excited to be surrounded by great people — Coach Franklin, Coach Yurcich, Coach [Danny] O’Brien,” Grunkemeyer told 247 Sports in a recent podcast interview. “I’ve built a really good relationship with all those guys. And I know Drew, and he loves his experience there so far. So I’m really happy where I landed, and I’m really excited to start to work with those guys.”

Penn State football has something special with new 2024 quarterback

According to the most recent composite rankings, Penn State football quarterback commit Ethan Grunkemeyer remains a three-star recruit. He is currently ranked as the No. 751 recruit in the nation, the No. 46 quarterback in the 2024 class, and the No. 24 recruit in the state of Ohio. While he may not be the highest-ranked recruit in Penn State’s class, the Nittany Lions have a special player with a bright future ahead of them.



Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

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