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Tennessee football: Ranking every starter from 2020 who returned by performance in 2021

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee defensive back Alontae Taylor (2) high-fives fans after defeating South Carolina 45-20 in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football
Tennessee defensive back Alontae Taylor (2) high-fives fans after defeating South Carolina 45-20 in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football /
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Tennessee tight end Princeton Fant (88) speaks with Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel during an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football
Tennessee tight end Princeton Fant (88) speaks with Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel during an NCAA college football game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the South Carolina Gamecocks in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.Kns Tennessee South Carolina Football /

Tight end. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Redshirt senior. Princeton Fant. 12. 839

6’2″ 240 pounds

With multiple transfers at tight end and Princeton Fant’s emergence down the stretch of last season, it seemed as if he would become an elite receiver in Josh Heupel’s offense. He was finally settled in at the position after moving around lots of different spots since joining Tennessee football back in 2017.

Sure, the move to the spread would be a bit of a transition, but Fant was supposed to be more of a receiving tight end anyway. Although he was productive, he could have done more. For the year, he caught 16 passes, gaining 220 yards and scoring one touchdown. Included in that was a 58-yard key reception in the Music City Bowl against the Purdue Boilermakers.

However, Fant was not great at getting separation and did not have reliable hands throughout the year. Against Purdue alone, he had two drops before that 58-yard gain, so there were quite a few issues with him throughout the year that need to be corrected.

A PFF overall regular season score 58.3 doesn’t really help his case, but the good news for him and potentially UT is that he’s coming back next year. Fant has shown flashes, and this will be his first year coming back with experience at one position while playing in the same system.

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