Player Bio
Durant led Lamar High School to a South Carolina state title as the team’s starting quarterback and free safety his senior year. He attended Palmetto Prep Academy before moving on to South Carolina State. Durant did not play in 2017 but started 10 games the following season (38 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups). He came into his own as a junior, garnering second-team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference honors after compiling a team-high three interceptions and 12 pass breakups (also posting 35 stops, four for loss). The school did not play in the fall of 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns but scheduled four non-conference games in the spring of 2021. Durant started all four contests (eight tackles, one for loss), receiving second-team Associated Press FCS All-American recognition by tying for first in the FCS with 2.2 passes defensed per game, including his four interceptions, which tied for third nationally. The accolades piled up in 2021, as he was named a first-team AP FCS All-American and the MEAC Defensive Player of the Year after leading SCSU with three interceptions and 12 pass breakups in 12 starts (plus 38 tackles, two for loss with one sack). Past SCSU MEAC Defensive Players of the Year include NFL linebackers Darius Leonard and Joe Thomas and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. — by Chad Reuter
Analysis
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Draft Projection
Round 6
Overview
Durant might be undersized, but he plays with tremendous confidence and competitiveness. He will have issues against bigger slot targets from time to time but proved his ability against receivers of all sizes against Clemson. He plays with good foot quickness and above-average ball skills to attack the throw. He’ll be targeted in run support so he will need to be used judiciously. Durant profiles as a late Day 3 selection due to his size, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him outperform his draft slotting.
Strengths
- Has 12 career interceptions.
- Finding the football is always on his mind.
- Potential to trace and match routes from the slot.
- Twitchy feet to pounce suddenly in short areas.
- Pure speed to maintain his coverage across the field.
- Footwork to stutter and phase changes in route tempo.
- Highly competitive against Clemson with two interceptions.
- Tremendous ball skills with impressive catch radius.
- Chops running backs down at the legs.
Weaknesses
- Short and light.
- Could struggle with bigger slot targets.
- Grabby from trail coverage.
- Needs to play with better pattern recognition.
- Gets hung up on receiver’s block in the run game.
- Could struggle with durability as a tackler.