Week Two Match-up To Watch: Rashard Fant vs. KeVonn Mabon

Matchup to Watch: Ball State vs. Indiana

KeVonn Mabon vs. Rashard Fant

Coming off of his first pick six since high school, Rashard Fant will return to the field tasked with covering another team’s top receiver this week. One of the MAC’s most dangerous playmakers comes to Bloomington this weekend, and it will be on Fant to keep him in check throughout the game. 

KeVonn Mabon has been one of the Mid American Conference’s most underrated players throughout his career, but is now the top dog in Muncie as he enters week two of his redshirt senior season. After being named a Third Team All-MAC performer the last two seasons, Mabon figures to land on either the first or second team this season even with a new offensive system and somewhat inexperienced quarterback. If he averages around 90 yards receiving in his remaining 11 games, Mabon will leave as Ball State’s all-time receiving yards leader, which is impressive considering the talent that has come through BSU over the years. 

Ball State’s new offense is all about establishing rhythm early in the game. One thing that they really try to do with sophomore quarterback Riley Neal is get him some easy throws that don’t require any reads to start the game off. Look for Mabon to be the focal point early on, with routes like slants, curls, and swings being the main way of getting him the ball in space. Once Neal is comfortable, it is really hard to knock the 6’5” QB out of rhythm, and that is when Mabon will look to do his damage deep. He has Power 5 speed, and will likely be fired up to play on the road against a Big Ten team. For a Hoosier defense that had some downfield coverage lapses last week against FIU, Fant will need to be sharp in order to prevent Mabon from running up and down the field on Saturday. 

Other Notes On This Matchup:

Mabon didn’t return many kicks in their opener against Georgia State last week, but I would expect him to be the KR1 this week against IU, as he proved to be a weapon back there during his last three seasons. 

Mabon was named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list prior to the beginning of the 2016 season. The award is given to the nation’s most outstanding pass catcher each season. 

Mabon and Fant will both wear #16 on Saturday, but the 6’2” Mabon will have four inches and 40 pounds on Fant. 

Against Georgia State Last Week:

8 Catches, 69 Yards 

2015 Stats:

70 Catches, 745 Yards, 10.6 YPC, 2 Touchdowns
19 Returns, 516 Yards, 27.2 YPR, 1 Touchdown