Former Tennessee utility tight end Princeton Fant made a name for himself by being a versatile, hard-working player during his time on Rocky Top.
Fant is hoping that same work ethic earns him more opportunities with the Dallas Cowboys at the next level.
ESPN’s Todd Archer recently left Fant off of his projection for the Dallas Cowboys’ 53-man roster in favor of three other tight ends but did note that Fant could be a potential sleeper target during training camp.
During a recent episode of Audacy’s Love of the Star podcast, 105.3 The Fan radio host Bobby Belt said that Fant was a player that star quarterback Dak Prescott has been “invested in” at practices. Fant performed in a very versatile role during his final collegiate season as a player who could catch, block, and run the ball in short-yardage situations for Josh Heupel’s Vols. Perhaps Prescott and the Cowboys see similar possibilities on the horizon themselves.
Belt went on to state that while watching Cowboys practices, it’s evident to see that Prescott is tough on Fant as he instructs him to do different things on the field and where he needs to be for certain situations.
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Fant’s climb is uphill, though. The Cowboys boast two young tight ends with Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker with second-year tight end John Stephens as the other likely candidate to make the roster. That leaves Fant in a bit of no-man’s-land with training camp on the horizon, but there could be progress to be made in the coming month.
After spending six seasons at the University of Tennessee (did not play in 2017), Fant signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in May 2023. Fant was waived that August but was soon re-signed to the Cowboys’ practice squad. Fant was elevated from the practice squad on two occasions last season for special teams appearances.
Fant rang in the new year with a reserve/future contract from Dallas on Jan. 15, 2024.
The Tennessee native redshirted his first year at Tennessee in 2017, which was the final season for Butch Jones as Brady Hoke took over for the final two games of the season. Fant then began his on-field career under Jeremy Pruitt from 2018 to 2020 until Josh Heupel and his staff took over for his final two seasons in 2021 and 2022.
Fant saw a significant uptick in production under Heupel, recording 220 yards in 2021 after just 118 in his first three seasons combined. Fant then broke out into his utility role during the Vols’ historic 2022 season as he recorded 241 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns, 17 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, and even completed his one passing attempt to Jalin Hyatt for a 68-yard touchdown.
