Iowa football starting tight end Noah Fant exploded onto the scene in 2017 with a school-record 10 touchdown catches, could be the Big Ten’s best in 2018?
Noah Fant came to Iowa City as a three-star athlete from Omaha and brought an impressive physical skill set as a true freshman. He did make some contributions his freshman year as he appeared in six games and made nine catches for 70 yards and a touchdown as the Hawkeyes finished 8-5. With the graduation of current San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, the stage was set for Fant to take over in 2017.
Take over is in fact what Fant did. He started all 12 games and finished with 30 catches for 494 yards and a nation-leading 11 touchdowns. That was the most by any tight end in FBS in the 2017 season. All of these stats, yet Fant was passed over by the coaches and the media for first team All-Big Ten honors, which was given to Wisconsin’s Troy Fumagalli.
With the graduation of Fumagalli from Wisconsin it raises the question “Can Noah Fant be the best tight end in the Big Ten?”. The answer is: he already was. With all due respect to Fumagalli, who is a fantastic player himself, the Iowa passing game wouldn’t have amounted to much without Fant’s presence in 2017. Fant has a frame of 6-foot-5, 232 lbs, yet can out run many linebackers the Big Ten has to offer. Just look at this touchdown catch he made against Ohio State.
It's an air raid in Iowa City as Nate Stanley uncorks another touchdown pass, and @HawkeyeFootball has Ohio State on its heels: pic.twitter.com/lfjUVdVGsQ
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 4, 2017
Fumagalli might have been a slightly better blocker than Fant, but Fant is no slouch blocking for his running backs. This clip shows Fant blocking until and even after the whistle on replay. Unfortunately Fant was assessed a very questionable 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness.
Great blocking Noah Fant. Keep it up, Love it pic.twitter.com/44jmDj5oWu
— Willie - WCF (@Fantwc) November 20, 2017
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Fant has everything you want and more when looking at a pro prospect tight end. If Fant can build on his sophomore success and go on a tear in 2018, look for him to be taken fairly early in the 2019 NFL Draft if he chooses to leave. But there is no question Fant will be the best tight end in the Big Ten in 2018.