Penn State defensive tackles leading team in interceptions through 2 games

UNIVERSITY PARK — Few things in football can get a home crowd rocking like a 300-pound offensive or defensive lineman making an uncharacteristic play.

For the Penn State faithful, that has been an early and frequent theme. It already has happened three times in just two games.

Captain defensive tackle Zane Durant, last week against Nevada, had his first career interception, followed by a 14-yard return that nearly turned into a touchdown.

Though it didn’t count because of a holding penalty, a cross-field pass to left tackle Drew Shelton against FIU on Saturday would have been a 2-point conversion.

Not to be outdone by his positionmate, defensive tackle Alonzo Ford Jr. pulled down the first interception of his college career — and his life, he revealed after the game — in Saturday’s 34-0 win over the Panthers.

FIU quarterback Keyone Jenkins was under heavy pressure from Jaylen Harvey and Dani Dennis-Sutton, and he tried to dump an ill-advised pass toward his receiver just beyond the line of scrimmage. Ford, stalemated at first, sank under the route.

And Jenkins floated the ball right into the big man’s hands.

“I tried to read it. I thought it was a screen or something,” Ford said. “I looked back, just turned around, and the quarterback was throwing the ball. So I just caught it.”

Ford spent the entirety of his postgame news conference with a smile, beginning each answer with a childlike giggle.

The 6-foot-2, 304-pound sixth-year senior has been through a lot in his career, transferring to Penn State from Old Dominion and dealing with season-ending injuries in 2023 and 2025. His big moment Saturday was the culmination of working in practice on tip drills and hand-eye coordination.

Durant, of course, joked with Ford that the latter was tackled immediately after making the play. They shared in a raucous celebration afterward.

Two of the more unlikely names are leading Penn State in interceptions to start the highly anticipated 2025 season. In doing so, they became the first pair of Nittany Lions defensive tackles to secure picks since Jim Deter and Frank Giannetti in 1990.

After losing veterans Dvon J-Thomas, Coziah Izzard and Hakeem Beamon from last season’s rotation, Penn State’s defensive tackles were in the spotlight for much of this offseason.

Durant has proven his worth as a preseason All-American, Ford looks fully healthy from his injury and Xavier Gilliam has started to take the step toward stardom expected of him by peers and coaches.

That’s all without mentioning intriguing depth with potential, including Ty Blanding, Enai White and Owen Wafle, each of whom has made splash plays through two games.

James Franklin highlighted the “phenomenal” things the position has done. But no one could have predicted this turnover outburst up front.

Just ask three-time captain linebacker Dom DeLuca how he would have reacted to being told in training camp about his DTs’ early interceptions.

“I would have told you you’re crazy. I would have never believed you,” he said. “But, hey, D-line’s getting their money’s worth, and they’re making a lot of plays for us. Leading us in picks and probably doing just as well in tackles, too. They’re making a lot of plays, and we’re just glad to have everyone doing their job so they can eat.”