Cowboys UDFA Spotlight: Versatile tight end fits team's successful trend
Among the Dallas Cowboys' undrafted free agent signings, tight end Princeton Fant from Tennessee stands out, the cousin of Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant. But while Princeton Fant is listed as a tight end, he can contribute to the Cowboys in multiple ways. That's what he did in college and he projects as an H-back […]
Among the Dallas Cowboys' undrafted free agent signings, tight end Princeton Fant from Tennessee stands out, the cousin of Seattle Seahawks tight end Noah Fant.
But while Princeton Fant is listed as a tight end, he can contribute to the Cowboys in multiple ways. That's what he did in college and he projects as an H-back (a player set back from the line of scrimmage with assignments similar to a tight end and fullback).
Fant was a big part of the Vols' goal-line offense, which feels particularly important for the Cowboys, who featured 13 and 14 personnel groupings (three and four tight end sets) last season in such situations. Even though Kellen Moore no longer runs the offense, you'd assume the Cowboys are sticking to such a successful package, which Fant seems to fit.
Here's what A to Z Sports' Vols writer Zach Ragan wrote about Fant in a recent article:
"It's an overused phrase in sports, but Fant truly was a Swiss army knife for Tennessee this past season. The Vols would line Fant up at tight end or fullback, often using him in goal line situations when Tennessee would scrap their up-tempo spread and look for a condensed formation under center."
Also, Fant is the owner of a pretty weird stat as he scored at least one touchdown passing, receiving, and rushing in his final season as a Tennessee Vol. In total, he scored three receiving touchdowns and five rushing in 2022.
"Overall, Fant is strength and technique deficient as a blocker but his athletic upside as a utility H-back and special teamer will be his ticket to an NFL camp," writes The Athletic's Dane Brugler in his draft guide.
Fant won't have an easy path to the 53-man roster, however. The Cowboys have a loaded room at the position as second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker joins second-year players Jake Ferguson and Peyton Hendershot. Sean McKeon has also been a part of the team since 2020 and will have an edge over Fant.
