As Durant settles into Buffalo Bills training camp, his Plant City family is proudly embracing Bills blue and red.
For the Durant family, red and blue have suddenly become the colors of home. Since April 25, Buffalo Bills blue, red, and white have filled closets, phone screens, and family conversations after former Penn State standout Zane Durant heard his name called in the fifth round of the NFL Draft as the 181st overall pick by the Buffalo Bills.
The road to the NFL may look fast from the outside, but for those closest to Durant, the moment was years in the making.
“This was not unexpected because of the sacrifices he made and the hard work he put in,” said his mother, Rojina Durant. “To see his success is amazing.”
Durant, a defensive tackle known for his athleticism and relentless style of play, played four seasons at Penn State before becoming Buffalo’s newest addition to the defensive line. During his college career, he appeared in 54 games, recording 89 tackles, one fumble recovery and 10 sacks.
The 6-foot-1, 290-pound lineman also turned heads at the NFL Combine, posting a 4.75-second 40-yard dash, the fastest among defensive tackles and the fifth fastest in combine history.
But long before Penn State and the NFL, Durant was just a kid playing every sport he could find.
His sports career began by playing soccer, basketball, and flag football at the Plant City Parks and Recreation Center before moving to Orlando with his family in 2009, where he joined I-9 Sports. He eventually decided he wanted to put on pads and play tackle football full-time. In high school, Durant played linebacker before growing into the defensive tackle position that would eventually carry him to the NFL.
The youngest of four children, Durant comes from a deeply athletic family. His two older sisters were athletes, including Arielle, who attended Florida International University on a basketball scholarship (she also holds the record for the most points scored at Tomlin Middle School), and Gabrielle, who attended the University of Central Florida on a Track and Field scholarship. His parents, both born and raised in Plant City, also have strong sports backgrounds. His father Marcus, played football at Plant City High School before continuing at Florida A&M University, while his mother, a Plant City High graduate and former principal with 29 years in education, emphasized academics alongside athletics. “The biggest part for him was getting the education first,” Rojina Durant said.
Durant graduated from Penn State with a degree in Human and Health Development after dual-enrolling during high school to get a jump on college coursework.
Family support has been constant throughout his journey. In Plant City, his cheering squad includes the Durant, Broadnax, Richardson, Goodwine, Micher, Michael, Davis, Dasher, Freeman, Latimore, and McDonald families. The Durants traveled to many Penn State games during his college career, making regular trips to Happy Valley to watch their son compete on one of college football’s biggest stages.
Now, those trips are shifting north to Buffalo.
The Bills recently completed rookie minicamp from May 8-10, and Durant is beginning the next phase of his NFL career alongside veteran players, including star quarterback Josh Allen. His family plans to travel to Buffalo to help him get settled into his new home.
Off the field, Durant is known among family and friends for another talent: cooking. “He loves to cook. He’s a great chef,” his mother said with a laugh.
Despite reaching the NFL, Durant has continued giving back close to home. Over the past four years, he has hosted football camps in the Lake Nona area, working with young athletes and encouraging the next generation.
Zane hopes the next generation of athletes will learn from his experiences. “The things you do when no one is watching will eventually have everyone watching,” said Zane Durant. “Put the work in, and the rest will follow.”
For now, though, his family is embracing a new chapter, one filled with Buffalo Bills colors, long trips to western New York, and the realization that a lifelong dream has officially arrived.
