At the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, the 319 invitees have an opportunity to interview with teams and reporters at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. Nine former Penn Staters are participating in the combine, including defensive tackle Zane Durant
Penn State’s disappointing season was a blessing in disguise for Zane Durant
Durant was the first at the podium out of his fellow Nittany Lions, and handling adversity was a big topic for the hopeful NFL prospect.
Climbing out of the hole they found themselves in wasn't just up to the locker room, though. Durant made sure to give credit where credit is due: to Terry Smith, who stepped up as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025 season after falling to Northwestern in Week 7.
Zane Durant says keeping Terry Smith on Matt Campbell's staff was "a must"
Smith rallied the team together and brought Penn State back to its roots. He was the reason why the Nittany Lions fought their way to a non-playoff bowl game and celebrated their ability to overcome adversity. They finished the season 6-6 and beat Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl.
After seeing Smith's dedication and determination, the players agreed that he deserved a fair shot at the full-time head coach role. Ultimately, Matt Campbell took the job, though athletic director Pat Kraft gave Smith an interview for the position. Campbell made sure Penn State retained Smith on his staff, however, and it was one of the first moves he made after being hired.
"The key holder to us last year [during] all the adversity that we had" Durant said of Smith at the NFL Combine. "So, I think bringing him back was a must to keep the tradition and the culture at Penn State intact."
I’m here in Indy working the Combine for the NFL, but I obviously have to stop by to listen to my Penn Staters.
— Hailey Stutzman (@stutzhailey) February 25, 2026
Zane Durant talking about Terry Smith and how important it was to retain him on staff pic.twitter.com/JuXoLsfviK
Smith bleeds blue and white. That's something he made clear during the 2025 season when he stepped up as interim head coach and that's something that was evident to Campbell when he decided to retain Smith on his staff.
Smith will stay Penn State's associate head coach and cornerbacks coach on Campbell's staff. He enters his fifth season as associate head coach and 12th season overall on the coaching staff. Smith also plays a major role in defensive recruitment.