Princeton Fant signing with Dallas Cowboys as undrafted free agent

Former Tennessee tight end and fullback Princeton Fant was not picked in the 2023 NFL Draft but has fielded multiple free agent opportunities. He’s expected to sign with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent.

The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Fant, a Nashville native who attended LaVergne High School, accounted for nine total touchdowns and 324 yards during his final season at Tennessee as one of the most versatile options in Josh Heupel’s offense. 

Tennessee had five players selected in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft. Offensive tackle Darnell Wright went at No. 10 overall in the first round Thursday night to the Chicago Bears. Quarterback Hendon Hooker was next at No. 68 overall, taken by the Detroit Lions Friday night, the start of a run of four Vols selected in the third round.

JUST IN: Jerome Carvin tells me he is going to Kansas City on a FA deal. Princeton Fant tells me he is going to Dallas on a FA deal.🚨🚨🚨

— Austin Price (@AustinPriceless) April 29, 2023

Vols found versatility in Princeton Fant during his standout redshirt senior season

Fant caught 22 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns, rushed six times for 17 yards and five touchdowns as a goal-line fullback and even threw a touchdown pass, a 66-yarder against UT Martin. 

He sat out as a redshirt in 2017, carried three times as a running back in 2018 then moved back to tight end after the 2018 season. He played in eight games in 2019, catching two passes for 15 yards, and played in all 10 games in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, catching 12 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.

Fant played in all 13 games last season, catching 16 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown, then opted to return to Tennessee this season for a sixth year with the Vols.

He had a career day in October in Tennessee’s 65-24 win over UT Martin on Homecoming at Neyland Stadium, rushing for two touchdowns and threw a 66-yard touchdown to Jalin Hyatt.

Fant posted a thank you not to Tennessee fans on social media in December, before playing his final game with the Vols in the 31-14 win over Clemson in the Orange Bowl:

“With my time at Tennessee coming to a close, I wanted to take a minute to thank you for everything. Your unwavering support through the highs and the lows has been incredible to witness. There is no fan base more loyal and dedicated than Vol Nation. I’m truly going to miss seeing your energy and passion on fall Saturdays at Neyland Stadium.

“I also want to thank the University of Tennessee, my coaches, the support staff and everyone who has helped me throughout my process during my time at UT. It has been a pleasure to call Knoxville home for the last six years.

“Above all, I want to thank God for providing me with the opportunity to play the game I love so much and everything else that He has blessed me with throughout my life.”

Princeton Fant was a three-star, in-state prospect in 2017

Fant was a three-star prospect in the 2017 recruiting cycle, ranked No. 42 among tight ends and No. 25 in the state of Tennessee. He was the No. 879 overall prospect in the country, picking Tennessee over offers from LSU, Miami, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Kentucky and Louisville, among others.

“These guys have put so much work into it,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said Thursday during an appearance on Ramon, Kayla and Will on 104.5-FM The Zone in Nashville. “You just think back to when I got here and what they’ve done for Tennessee football, flipping the culture, obviously flipping the trajectory. 

“Now you get a chance to see them on the backend of their process as they prepare for the next step. These guys have handled it extremely well and cannot wait for the weekend, for tonight for some of our guys. There is nothing better than seeing kids realize their childhood dreams. It’s pretty cool.”