Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 16 Days (Rashard Fant and Austin King)

Written By David Sugarman (@David_Sugarman2)

We’re closing in on the end of the countdown with just 16 days to go until Indiana opens up the season against Ohio State on August 31st. Today we take a look at a pair of players who share a number and a home state, but play on different sides of the ball. Let’s take a look at cornerback Rashard Fant and quarterback Austin King.

#16

Rashard Fant (Redshirt Senior)

Height: 5’10’’

Weight: 180 pounds

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Position: Defensive back

Indiana’s gave up 27.2 points per game in 2016, the lowest total since 2001. One of the most vital parts of the team’s meteoric rise was Rashard Fant. There a lot of talented players in the Big Ten and often times Indiana players will get overlooked, but not Fant. He’s projected by many, including us, (http://hoosierhuddle.com/hoosier-blog/hoosier-huddle-all-big-ten-teams/2017/7/24) to be First Team All-Big Ten and for good reason.

Each of the last two seasons Fant has led the Big Ten and finished either second or tied for second in the nation in pass breakups. Despite being a feared commodity around the conference Fant was still able to tie for the team lead last season with three interceptions including a pick-six on opening night against Florida International. Fant’s numbers are no small feat with elite receivers all over the Big Ten like DaeSean Hamilton (Penn State) and Jazz Peavy (Wisconsin) as well as a ton of young and highly touted recruits getting ready for serious time at Ohio State and Michigan. Sammy Jacobs touched on the top five receiving corps Indiana will play this season earlier this Summer (http://hoosierhuddle.com/hoosier-blog/top-five-wide-receiving-corps-indiana-will-have-to-face-in-2017/2017/7/19?rq=top%20five).

Fant had the chance to go to the NFL this past season, but luckily for the Hoosiers came back saying how he wanted to improve on certain aspects of his game and is very passionate about earning a second degree from IU. Specifically Fant wants to refine his technique. He wasn’t shy saying he knows sometimes his technique is excellent, but it’s a matter of trusting it and consistency. He doesn’t just want to rely on his speed saying, “That’s a dangerous game, especially at the next level for guys who are all running 4.3s and you’re not the only one so I need to be more technique sound.”

There are some question marks surrounding Indiana’s defensive line, but in the secondary there are only answers. Fant is leader of an extremely talented group including himself, Marcelino Ball, Jonathan Crawford and more. Fant’s assignments will be tough week in and week out, but he commented at Big Ten media days that working against bigger and stronger receivers like Simmie Cobbs and Nick Westbrook helps him feel prepared for that. Fant will be covering a new focal point of the opposing team’s offense each week and if he continues his play and improvements as he had over the last two seasons, then it won’t be long before he’s making plays at the NFL level.

Austin King (Redshirt Sophomore)

Height: 6’2’’

Weight: 205 pounds

Hometown: Alpharetta, Georgia

Position: Quarterback

Gameday is nearly here and the majority of the position competitions have been settled. After some early rumbles of quarterback competition, Richard Lagow is still the starter and Austin King is considered the number four QB on the depth chart. It’s easy to dismiss the number four QB and it’s understandable why, but on IU’s roster after Lagow nobody has seen a snap of game action. Peyton Ramsey redshirted last season and Nick Tronti is an incoming freshman. It means that after this year with Lagow gone the QB competition should be wide open and King will have a fair swing at it.

Originally from Georgia, King redshirted the 2015 season after a successful high school career at Alpharetta High School. King earned honorable mention Class AAAAAA and was selected as all-region twice. He even won a regional championship.

King saw no action in 2016 and it’s unlikely he’ll see any action this season. That doesn’t mean we’ll never see him though. The quarterback evaluation for 2018 will start sooner than you think especially since all the backups are so young and inexperienced. King could be in the mix this time next year.

Please share any comments or thoughts in the comments section or in our message board. The countdown continues each and every day so make sure to check Hoosier Huddle daily as we churn towards the 2017 season!