Bucket Game Matchup to Watch: DeAngelo Yancey vs. Rashard Fant

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Written By Alex Compton

For the second straight season, it all comes down to the Bucket Game for Indiana. Not only are they looking to win the Old Oaken Bucket for the fourth straight year, but this is also the second straight season that a win over Purdue sends the Hoosiers bowling. 

DeAngelo Yancey vs. Rashard Fant

Since the firing of Darrell Hazell, Purdue hasn’t won a ballgame.  The defense has been atrocious all season, but all of a sudden the offense appears to be somewhat effective. David Blough leads the conference in passing yards, and DeAngelo Yancey is second in receiving yards, just barely ahead of Nick Westbrook. Add in a decent run game, and the Boilers will certainly present a solid test in the regular season finale on Saturday. Bottling up Yancey will be key, as he is their deep threat and leads the Boilers in receiving touchdowns with nine. Tom Allen’s defense has done a fantastic job at limiting deep passes this season even with a young secondary. With a pass-happy offense coming to Bloomington this weekend, it will be key for Rashard Fant to take Yancey out of the game by himself, and let the other DB’s focus their attention elsewhere.  

Indiana’s defense has obviously improved across the board, but the huge difference so far has been the improvement in the run defense. The defensive line isn’t bursting with great talent, so where has this improvement come from? Coaching, a scheme change, and a shift in attitude have all played a part, but one factor that has been overlooked has been the play of Rashard Fant and his fellow DB’s. Having a player like Rashard Fant is a luxury for Tom Allen. He can throw Fant on the opposing team’s best receiver all game and not have to worry about safety or linebacker help. This allows other players to be more aggressive and help stop the run. Fant will have to continue his solid play and lock up Yancey in order for IU’s D to keep up their great play as a unit. 

Yancey isn’t much different than the guys Fant has been matching up against this season; he’s just really good. To make matters worse, he is coming off of his best game of the year against Wisconsin, a game in which he caught 6 balls for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns. Wisconsin has one of the best defenses and secondaries in the country, but apparently nobody told that to Yancey. Fant will have to be ready, especially as a leader on a team that has to win to get in the postseason. 


Other Notes On This Matchup:

Rashard Fant has been banged up the last few weeks, and appeared to get hurt toward the end of the Michigan game last weekend. He will play on Saturday barring some sort of setback, but HoosierHuddle.com is not certain just how healthy he will be on Saturday. 


DeAngelo Yancey Stats 2016:

  • 43 receptions
  • 873 yards
  • 20.3 average per catch
  • 88 long
  • 9 touchdowns