Former Nittany Lions steal the show at 2026 NFL Scouting Combine with historic performances
Penn State was well represented at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine after top performances by former Nittany Lions heading to the NFL Draft.
The season didn’t go according to plan for the Penn State Nittany Lions, but it still had a lot of top individual performers who are entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
As the Nittany Lions turn its own page, a handful of others are doing the same as they take their talents to the NFL. Their first major stop is at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, where all 32 teams are meeting with top draft prospects and watching them perform in drills on the field.
Two former Nittany Lions started the show hot and made a name for themselves with standout performances.
Zane Durant is the top DT performer at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine
Zane Durant was a standout defender for the Nittany Lions over the last four seasons, and now he’s looking to help a new team in the NFL. Durant started his NFL Draft process strong with as impressive a scouting combine performance as possible. He ran a 4.75 40-yard dash, which was the best among all defensive tackles, and even faster than quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Patrick Mahomes.
Durant followed it up with a 33.50″ vertical jump, which was third, and a 9’4″ broad jump, which was fifth among all defensive tackles as well. He hit the field and showcased his movement and ability in the bag drills, and caused a lot of social media hype with his performance.
Durant has been projected as a Day 3 prospect, but his NFL Scouting Combine numbers could help boost his stock into Day 2 for a team looking for a stout defensive tackle this offseason.
Dani Dennis-Sutton puts up historic numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine
Durant wasn’t the only standout defender who was looking to boost his stock at the NFL Scouting Combine, as Dani Dennis-Sutton had a point to prove this offseason as well. Dennis-Sutton was a projected first-round pick heading into the season, but a nightmare season for the Nittany Lions killed a lot of hype around the team.
Dennis-Sutton still had a great season, and a strong combine performance could revive his draft stock. He did exactly in the drills, and finished with a 4.63 40-yard dash, a 39.5″ vertical, and a 10’11” broad jump, which is at the top of the class.
His athletic profile at 6-6, 256 pounds, with 33.5″ arms, added to his speed and explosion grade gave him an elite 9.93 Relative Athletic Score. This is the 15th-highest RAS by an EDGE prospect out of 2,046 prospects since 1987.
Dennis-Sutton’s historic scouting combine performance can boost him back into the second round, and there’s no doubt he will be one of the biggest steals of the NFL Draft.
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