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Penn State ties nation's best with 3 AP preseason All-Americans

nate-mug-10.12.14by: Nate Bauer08/18/25NateBauerBWI
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Penn State defensive tackle Zane Durant. (Pickel/BWI)

Zane Durant passed the eye test at the start of Penn State football’s preseason camp. When the BTN and its personalities visited campus for practice, the Nittany Lion defensive tackle looked every bit like a player ready to be great in 2025.

“Zane Durant, I was just blown away by him. I think he’s one of the more underrated defensive linemen in our conference. That’s an NFL body,” said Jake Butt. “They don’t have Abdul Carter on this defensive line. But I think the sum of Zane Durant and Dani Dennis-Sutton collectively could be the best D-tackle, D-end in the conference.”

On Monday afternoon, Durant added another preseason accolade to his growing list.

The Associated Press announced Durant as one of three Nittany Lions selected to its preseason All-America first team. Penn State’s three honorees tied with Texas, the preseason No. 1 team in the country, for the most nationally.

Joining Durant, senior running back Nicholas Singleton and redshirt junior offensive guard Olaivavega Ioane earned first-team recognition. On the second team, running back Kaytron Allen was named with an “all-purpose player” designation.

A standout performer himself with high expectations this season, Durant credited his teammates for shaping his development throughout his career. Among them, fellow fourth-year player Ioane has been a constant influence, he said.

“It’s helped me tremendously. I can applaud those guys for my career and everything that I did, because I go against those guys every day,” said Durant. “And they build up. They give our guys the best work. That’s the best O-linemen we’re going to face all year. So I think that’s the best challenge that we get for the young guys, and they get used to playing Big Ten O-linemen.”

Similarly, Penn State has seen steady growth from Singleton and Allen in the backfield. Both have been recognized for what could be exclamation-point seasons, with the potential to finish as Penn State’s No. 1 and No. 2 all-time rushing leaders. Off the field, they’ve also stepped into greater leadership roles.

“They’re leaders by example,” new Penn State running backs coach Stan Drayton told reporters this preseason. “I want them to talk a little bit more. I do hear them talking in their own little setting, one on one with the other running backs, and they’re really demanding and commanding of those guys. You just don’t hear them. Like you won’t hear them out there. I hear them in my own little world.

“But they’re doing a great job of leading. They really are. They’re showing our young guys how to practice, how to play on contact. They’re keeping the standard of the program intact for these guys and that’s all you can ask for from your leaders.”

Penn State opens the 2025 season against Nevada on Aug. 30 at Beaver Stadium.

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