2021 Early Signing Day Top Storylines
Tennessee tight end Princeton Fant is returning for his super senior season, the Nashville native announced Tuesday afternoon.
Fant was a co-starter with Jacob Warren this season, catching 13 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown as a redshirt-senior. Fant has played in 32 games in his Tennessee career, bouncing around at different positions.
The former three-star recruit found a home at tight end and has caught 25 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns the last two seasons.
“It definitely took a while to get used to, especially with the fast-paced offense that we have,” Fant said of Heupel’s offense. “But, I love the fact that we’re getting the ball, getting touches and showing what we can do as a tight end group, instead of just blocking. Blocking is one major role that tight ends do. We’re going to perfect on that, continue to block, continue to open up plays and doors for our running backs and for our quarterbacks. The main thing that I love the most is that we’re getting touches.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Fant earned a 58.3 grade in 421 plays this season.
Warren, a redshirt-junior this season, is coming back for another season as well. The former Farragut star still has two years of eligibility remaining. The news isn’t a shock, but still a big addition for Tennessee.
The return gives Tennessee its starting tight end duo back for another season. The Vols won’t lose a scholarship tight end due to graduation as Miles Campbell and Julian Nixon are both freshmen.
“I think we both really enjoying playing with each other and playing alongside each other,” Warren said Tuesday. “I think it’s unique, the way that we operate here, because we truly split. Each series that we go in there, you’ll see one of us in there, and then the next time we’re out there, it’ll be the other one. I’m really grateful for him, because he’s been great throughout the whole thing, not trying to be selfish about any reps. If he’s out there and he scores a touchdown or something, if you watch, I’m literally the first one running down there to celebrate with him, because I know he’d do it for me. I’ve just been blessed and been lucky to have a guy like him alongside.”
Fant and Warren become the third and fourth Vols’ offensive players to announce plans to return for another season, joining quarterback Hendon Hooker and center Jerome Carvin.
Tennessee is still awaiting the NFL decision of star receiver Cedric Tillman.
