Despite not hearing his name called during the 2023 NFL Draft this weekend, Tennessee tight end Princeton Fant is still heading to an NFL team with a chip on his shoulder.
As announced by Tennessee on social media following the draft, Fant has signed as an undrafted free agent with Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys.
Fant is one of three Tennessee players to sign as undrafted free agents on Saturday. Linebacker Jeremy Banks signed with the Buccaneers and offensive lineman Jerome Carvin signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
While the Cowboys did draft Michigan tight end Luke Schoonmaker in the second round, the tight end position was certainly an area of need for Dallas heading into the draft this weekend. The Cowboys lost productive tight end Dalton Schultz this offseason and has notably used that position frequently under head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Dak Prescott.
With the workman’s mentality that Fant has been known to have, the former Tennessee veteran could carve himself out a unique role with Dallas on the special teams unit and maybe even with the offense.
The next chapter for @pfant12 !
✍️➡️ @dallascowboys #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/nrTS4wlBJG
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) April 30, 2023
More from RTI: How the Experts Graded the NFL Draft’s Day Two Tennessee Players
Fant, a native of Nashville, TN, joined the Tennessee football program by way of LaVergne High School in 2017. Fant elevated his game in each of his final three seasons in Knoxville, catching 12 passes for 103 yards in 2020, 16 passes for 220 yards in 2021, and 22 passes for 241 yards in 2022.
Tennessee used Fant as a jack-of-all-trades throughout the season as he caught passes, threw a touchdown, ran the ball, and was a reliable target in the specialty game such as two-point conversions and goal-line situations. Fant threw one pass for a touchdown and found five scores on the ground during his final season in Knoxville.
During his time in Tennessee, Fant was named to the 2019 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and was recently invited to the 2023 East-West Shrine Game.
Princeton Fant will head to Dallas with hopes of creating success and an impact similar to his cousin, Noah Fant.
Noah Fant is a four-year NFL tight end that spent his first three years in Denver and this most recent season in Seattle. If Princeton Fant does land a spot on the Cowboys’ roster for the 2023 season, there will be a family reunion in store as Dallas and Seattle are set to square off in Arlington, Texas at some point in the season.
Princeton Fant finished his career in Knoxville with 52 receptions, 579 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns, 24 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, and one pass attempt for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Tennessee had five players drafted in the NFL Draft this weekend:
- No. 10 Darnell Wright (Chicago Bears)
- No. 68 Hendon Hooker (Detroit Lions)
- No. 73 Jalin Hyatt (New York Giants)
- No. 74 Cedric Tillman (Cleveland Browns)
- No. 77 Byron Young (Los Angeles Rams)
What an effort!
Princeton Fant just kept grinding for a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/JAIkajdv7l
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 15, 2022
OH, GOODNESS.
Princeton Fant with an awesome grab for a @Vol_Football touchdown. pic.twitter.com/h0uZUdnKRg
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 12, 2022
