2022 Lake Nona (FL) 3-star DE Zane Durant has a long-standing relationship with new Miami Hurricanes DB coach Travaris Robinson going back to Robinson’s time as the defensive coordinator at South Carolina, and with the groundwork already laid, it was no surprise to see Durant land a UM offer last week.
“Coach T-Rob called me up and said, ‘You know you’ve had a Miami offer, right?’. He’s kind of like an uncle to me. He’s a coach, but we can talk about things outside of football – personal problems and stuff like that,” Durant said. “I was happy to get Miami because my mom loves it, that’s her favorite school. She wants me to go there.”
Zane’s mother Rojina Durant is the principal at Cherokee School, an elementary school in Orlando, and as an educator, she has been impressed by what she has seen from UM on the education-side of things.
“My mom knows it’s a private institute – as a principal, she loves academics and education, so that gets her hyped up,” Durant said. “Also the football team did well last season, they’re starting to turn the program around.”
Along with Robinson, Durant says he has talked to all of UM’s coaches at this point, including head coach Manny Diaz, and he says he is feeling like a priority early on in his Miami recruitment.
“Coach (Jess) Simpson, he told me he sees me as a 3-technique but also as an end rusher depending on how my body is coming in,” Durant said. “He said he’s not going to force me to put on weight, however I’m built when I get there, they’re going to take it from there.”
The 6’2” 250-pound prospect sees himself as a versatile piece on the defensive line that can rush the passer from both the inside and the outside, and Durant feels like he’d be a great fit for the Hurricanes’ defense.
“I’ve been watching their defense, I know they let their D-Line get after the quarterback,” Durant said. “They told me they’re trying to get back there as fast as possible, that’s why they’re recruiting guys like me.”
Although the NCAA has pushed back the dead period to the end of May, Durant is hopeful he can set up a visit to Miami in the near future, along with a few other schools.
“Every school I’m in contact with has been talking about setting up a visit if they open it back up,” Durant said. “I’m hoping to visit Indiana, Miami, Penn State, and Ole Miss.”
In addition those four schools, Durant also mentioned USC and Kansas State as programs that are in constant contact with him as well. Indiana is a school Durant has taken an interest in due to his long-time relationship with the Hoosiers and their strong 2020 season in which IU finished at #12 in the AP Poll with a 6-2 record and three ranked wins to their credit.
“Indiana was one of the first big schools to recruit me. Before they had a successful season, they were recruiting me as a top recruit,” Durant said. “So they just always stayed true in recruiting me, and I appreciate that, and then they had a successful season this year, which makes me like them even more.”
While top group announcements have become popular among recruits in recent years as a way to publicly narrow down their options, don’t expect to see one coming from Durant; he plans on simply announcing his commitment when he is ready, which will likely be in the weeks before his senior year starts.
“I’m hoping to cut my list down soon, but my parents said to just make a commitment when I’m ready, that I don’t need to be making any ‘top schools’ announcement,” Durant said. “So probably the summer before the football season I will be looking to make a commitment, I don’t think I will be making a top group.”
What factors will Durant prioritize when he is buckling down to make his college choice?
“The living environment, my relationship with the coaches, where the football program is headed, and a place where I’m comfortable at,” he said.
During his junior year on the field, Durant took his game to the next level, posting 40 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 2 FF, 2 FR, a safety, and a TD in 8 games played.
“My junior year, I wanted to get better at ‘assignment football’,” Durant said. “I think I stayed more to my assignment this year, but I still broke off a little bit and made plays that needed to be made.”
“Coach T-Rob called me up and said, ‘You know you’ve had a Miami offer, right?’. He’s kind of like an uncle to me. He’s a coach, but we can talk about things outside of football – personal problems and stuff like that,” Durant said. “I was happy to get Miami because my mom loves it, that’s her favorite school. She wants me to go there.”
Zane’s mother Rojina Durant is the principal at Cherokee School, an elementary school in Orlando, and as an educator, she has been impressed by what she has seen from UM on the education-side of things.
“My mom knows it’s a private institute – as a principal, she loves academics and education, so that gets her hyped up,” Durant said. “Also the football team did well last season, they’re starting to turn the program around.”
Along with Robinson, Durant says he has talked to all of UM’s coaches at this point, including head coach Manny Diaz, and he says he is feeling like a priority early on in his Miami recruitment.
“Coach (Jess) Simpson, he told me he sees me as a 3-technique but also as an end rusher depending on how my body is coming in,” Durant said. “He said he’s not going to force me to put on weight, however I’m built when I get there, they’re going to take it from there.”
The 6’2” 250-pound prospect sees himself as a versatile piece on the defensive line that can rush the passer from both the inside and the outside, and Durant feels like he’d be a great fit for the Hurricanes’ defense.
“I’ve been watching their defense, I know they let their D-Line get after the quarterback,” Durant said. “They told me they’re trying to get back there as fast as possible, that’s why they’re recruiting guys like me.”
Although the NCAA has pushed back the dead period to the end of May, Durant is hopeful he can set up a visit to Miami in the near future, along with a few other schools.
“Every school I’m in contact with has been talking about setting up a visit if they open it back up,” Durant said. “I’m hoping to visit Indiana, Miami, Penn State, and Ole Miss.”
In addition those four schools, Durant also mentioned USC and Kansas State as programs that are in constant contact with him as well. Indiana is a school Durant has taken an interest in due to his long-time relationship with the Hoosiers and their strong 2020 season in which IU finished at #12 in the AP Poll with a 6-2 record and three ranked wins to their credit.
“Indiana was one of the first big schools to recruit me. Before they had a successful season, they were recruiting me as a top recruit,” Durant said. “So they just always stayed true in recruiting me, and I appreciate that, and then they had a successful season this year, which makes me like them even more.”
While top group announcements have become popular among recruits in recent years as a way to publicly narrow down their options, don’t expect to see one coming from Durant; he plans on simply announcing his commitment when he is ready, which will likely be in the weeks before his senior year starts.
“I’m hoping to cut my list down soon, but my parents said to just make a commitment when I’m ready, that I don’t need to be making any ‘top schools’ announcement,” Durant said. “So probably the summer before the football season I will be looking to make a commitment, I don’t think I will be making a top group.”
What factors will Durant prioritize when he is buckling down to make his college choice?
“The living environment, my relationship with the coaches, where the football program is headed, and a place where I’m comfortable at,” he said.
During his junior year on the field, Durant took his game to the next level, posting 40 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 2 FF, 2 FR, a safety, and a TD in 8 games played.
“My junior year, I wanted to get better at ‘assignment football’,” Durant said. “I think I stayed more to my assignment this year, but I still broke off a little bit and made plays that needed to be made.”
