Personal information | |
---|---|
Born: | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | March 11, 1999
Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Weight: | 235 lb (107 kg) |
Career information | |
Position: | Tight end |
High school: | La Vergne (La Vergne, Tennessee) |
College: | Tennessee (2017–2022) |
NFL draft: | 2023: undrafted |
Career history | |
Stats at Pro Football Reference |
Princeton De'leon Fant (born March 11, 1999) is an American professional football tight end. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers.
High school career
[edit]Fant attended La Vergne High School in La Vergne, Tennessee. As a sophomore, Fant recorded 14 receptions for 326, while also rushing for 141 yards on nine attempts.[1] During spring practices following his sophomore year, Fant tore his ACL, prematurely ending his junior year of high school football.[2] In addition, Fant would miss the majority of his senior year, undergoing more surgery on his ACL.[3] A top recruit from the state of Tennessee, Fant committed to play college football at the University of Tennessee.[4]
College career
[edit]During the 2017 season, Fant would redshirt.[5] He played sparingly at running back the following season, before switching to the tight end position. During the 2020 season, Fant tallied 12 catches for 103 receiving yards, and one touchdown.[6] His first career and lone touchdown of the season came on a six-yard pass from Harrison Bailey against Vanderbilt.[7] As a redshirt senior the next season, Fant posted 13 receptions, 149 yards, and one touchdown.[8] At the season's end, he announced that he would return for a sixth season at Tennessee. In 2022, Fant was accountable for nine total touchdowns, five rushing, three receiving, and one passing.[9] The passing touchdown came on 68-yard pass to Jalin Hyatt on a trick play against UT Martin.[10] At the end of the season, Fant announced that he would enter the 2023 NFL draft.[11]
Season | Games | Receiving | Rushing | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | |||
Tennessee Volunteers | |||||||||||
2017 | DNP | ||||||||||
2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 2.3 | 0 | ||
2019 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 7.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2020 | 7 | 12 | 103 | 8.6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2021 | 10 | 16 | 220 | 13.8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2022 | 13 | 22 | 241 | 11.0 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 2.8 | 5 | ||
Career | 33 | 52 | 579 | 11.1 | 5 | 9 | 24 | 2.7 | 5 |
Professional career
[edit]Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Bench press | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 1+1⁄4 in (1.86 m) |
243 lb (110 kg) |
31 in (0.79 m) |
9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) |
19 reps | ||||||||
All values from Pro Day[12] |
Fant signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023. He was waived on August 29, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad.[13][14] Throughout his rookie season, Fant was elevated from the practice squad twice, appearing exclusively on special teams.[15][16] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 15, 2024.[17]
Fant was waived by the Cowboys on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad.[18][19] He was promoted to the active roster on November 27.[20]
On August 26, 2025, Fant was waived by the Cowboys as part of final roster cuts.[21]
Personal life
[edit]Fant is the cousin of Cincinnati Bengals tight end Noah Fant,[6] and he has a daughter named Aaliyah.[22]
References
[edit]- ^ Joyce, Cecil (August 12, 2016). "Dandy Dozen: Vols commit Princeton Fant returns after injury". The Daily News Journal. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Joyce, Cecil (August 6, 2016). "Princeton Fant, Deylon Williams anxious to play again". The Daily News Journal. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Joyce, Cecil (August 25, 2016). "Vols commitment Princeton Fant to miss much of La Vergne's season". The Tennessean. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Kreager, Tom (June 18, 2016). "Vols get 8 commitments in one day, including 3 from Midstate". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Joyce, Cecil (February 1, 2017). "La Vergne's Princeton Fant to be blueshirt with Tennessee". The Daily News Journal. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ a b Rucker, Wes (April 7, 2021). "Vols' Fant getting daily advice from NFL cousin". GoVols247. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Winter, Evan (December 12, 2020). "Vols dismantle Commodores, 42-17". Rocky Top Talk. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Sparks, Adam (December 21, 2021). "Tennessee football tight ends Princeton Fant and Jacob Warren will return in 2022". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Daly, Michael (December 28, 2022). "Princeton Fant, Tennessee TE, reacts to being a Swiss Army Knife for the Vols' offense". Saturday Down South. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Gary, Nick (October 22, 2022). "See Tennessee football TE Princeton Fant throw touchdown pass to Jalin Hyatt in UT Martin game". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ Brown, Patrick (January 4, 2023). "'I gave my all for Tennessee' – Princeton Fant sends farewell message to Vols". GoVols247. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
- ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Princeton Fant College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
- ^ Harris, Nick (August 29, 2023). "Cowboys announce 36 roster moves ahead of regular season". DallasCowboys.com. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- ^ Walker, Patrik (August 30, 2023). "Cowboys move two to IR, reveal 2023 practice squad". DallasCowboys.com. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- ^ Alper, Josh (November 30, 2023). "Cowboys elevate TE Princeton Fant for Thursday night". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ "Cowboys elevate tight end Princeton Fant from practice squad". Dallas News. December 9, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ Ochoa, RJ (January 15, 2024). "The offseason has begun for the Dallas Cowboys". Blogging The Boys. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
- ^ Walker, Patrik (August 27, 2024). "2024 Cowboys Roster: Carl Lawson, Kemon Hall, 4 RBs included in roster trimming". DallasCowboys.com.
- ^ Walker, Patrik (August 28, 2024). "Carl Lawson, Dalvin Cook headline list of Dallas Cowboys' practice squad signings". DallasCowboys.com.
- ^ "Cowboys' Princeton Fant: Signed to active roster". CBS Sports. November 27, 2024. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
- ^ Walker, Patrik. "2025 Roster Tracker: Deuce among list of Cowboys cuts". dallascowboys.com. Retrieved August 27, 2025.
- ^ Dauer, Paige (November 19, 2022). "Tennessee's Princeton Fant having career year in final season". WVLT. Retrieved April 23, 2023.