One of Penn State Football’s top recruits pumped about Manny Diaz

Zane Durant, one of Penn State Football’s highly-touted 2022 commits shares praise for new Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Many Diaz

Penn State Football made it official Saturday, hiring Manny Diaz as James Franklin’s latest defensive coordinator of the Nittany Lions.

Diaz, 47, hired less than a week after being fired as head coach of the Miami Hurricanes, understandably has as strong recruiting foothold in Florida and the southeast. His arrival was met with praise from one of Penn State Football’s top defensive commits.

"“I’m extremely excited to have coach Manny Diaz as our defensive coordinator,” Zane Durant said, via PennStateOn3 analyst Ryan Snyder. “Just from learning the schemes that they ran in Miami not only fits my mold but our entire 2022 defensive commits mold.”"

Durant, a four-star defensive lineman and the No. 38 overall prospect at the position in Penn State Football’s highly touted 2022 recruiting class, is one of those prospects hailing from the sunshine state with a favorable view of Diaz.

Known for exotic blitz packages and an aggressive style that aims to create chaos, Diaz could be an ideal fit for the Nittany Lions personnel along the front-seven, especially with strong safety play in the secondary via defensive backs coach Anthony Poindexter, who had a strong first season in Happy Valley.