Nacarius Fant, WR, Western Kentucky 2018 NFL Draft Prospect

2016 All-Conference USA First Team (PR)
2016 Phil Steele All-C-USA First Team (PR) 2016 (Jr.) | 9/8: Fant continued his strong performance as a versatile performer for the Hilltoppers and had a breakout season as a punt returner, picking up first team all-conference honors from both the league and Phil Steele. As a receiver, Fant tallied 29 receptions for 407 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 61-yard touchdown reception from Tyler Ferguson against Vanderbilt. Fant averaged 15.6 yards per punt return, good for fifth-best nationally and the best mark in Conference USA. Fant’s return average was good for fourth-best in single-season history and his two punt return touchdowns (at Miami (Ohio) for 48 yards and vs. Houston Baptist for 50 yards) tied for the second-most in single season history. His punt return against Miami (Ohio) was the first punt return touchdown since 2012 for the program. For his career, Fant’s 13.9 yards per punt return is second-best in program history heading into 2017.

2015 (So.) | 14/1: Fant did everything short of kick during his sophomore season on The Hill, as the only player to record a statistic rushing, passing, receiving and returning punts and kickoffs. He finished the year with 159 yards on 13 catches, 10 yards rushing on two attempts with one touchdown (Miami Beach Bowl) while going 2-for-3 for 76 yards passing with both completions – one to Taywan Taylor for 69 yards vs. Middle Tennessee and the other to Brandon Doughty for three yards against Florida Atlantic – going for touchdowns. Fant also added 37 punt return yards on four attempts and one seven-yard kickoff return. Fant’s biggest sequence came in the Miami Beach Bowl’s third quarter when he sparked the team, then ahead just 24-21, by rushing for a nine-yard touchdown to put WKU up 31-21. After a three-and-out by the defense, Fant returned the subsequent punt 37 yards to the USF 26-yard line, leading to a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jared Dangerfield on the next offensive play and 14 quick WKU points in a span of 1:45.

2014 (Fr.) | 4/0: Fant saw time in four games and caught his first collegiate pass for three yards at Middle Tennessee. He also appeared against LA Tech and UTEP, but did not record a statistic, and was the only non-quarterback to complete a pass for the Hilltoppers in 2014, a 25-yard wide receiver pass to Tyler Higbee at Marshall.

HS/Misc.: Three-time 5A state champion and the 2013 Kentucky Mr. Football, Fant joined the Tops after a standout career at Bowling Green High School for coach Kevin Wallace. Fant tallied 1,701 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns on 83 receptions as a senior and finished with 4,487 yards and 62 touchdowns on 227 career receptions. Fant holds every single-game, single-season and career receiving record at BGHS and ranks in the top-20 in eight individual categories in the KHSAA record book including: career touchdowns (53/4th), single-season touchdowns (24/t-7th), single-game touchdowns (4,t-7th), career receptions (227/t-5th), single-season receptions (83/t-17th), single-game receptions (15/t-14th), career yards (4,473/3rd), and single-season yards (1,699/7th). The Purples were 53-3 during Fant’s four-year career, another school record. Fant was named a second team All-American by Max Preps and a first-team All-State selection by the Associated Press. Fant was also in the Class of the Commonwealth by the Lexington-Herald Leader and the No. 12 player in Kentucky by ESPN’s Recruiting Nation. All four of the major recruiting services (Rivals, Scout, 247Sports and ESPN) rated Fant as a three-star prospect while 247Sports has him as the No. 7 player in the state.

This is a young man who is going to impress not only on the field but in the one-on-one sit downs with NFL Scouts. He is a mature, high character athlete. Unselfish, team oriented leader with great work ethic.

More than a situational receiver, Fant plays running back, and excels on special teams via punt and kick returns. He is an avid studier of film. He was an extension of the running game via the pass at Western Kentucky, and used in plenty of bubble screens. Good football IQ.

Fant is a late-round prospect, but definitely a guy that has the means to eventually sticks on the 53-man roster. A genuine personality guy who will put the organization before themselves.