Rashard Fant: For me football is something that has been in my life ever since I can remember. What is great about my relationship with football is that we chose each other, I mean that in the way that my parents never forced me to do it or anything. It just happened to be something that I was really good at and that I loved to do. Football is my get away, it brings me so much joy and when things in life aren’t the best or I am going through a lot, the first thing I like to do is go get on a field and work out for a couple of hours then lay down on the field afterwards for about an hour or two after I finish and just talk to God and thank him for blessing me so much. I guess you could say football is a huge component of my life and I am a better person for that and glad it is.
Joe Gaiter: Tell me about your season this year?
Rashard Fant: This season was definitely a little different for me in the aspect of actually being considered a top player at my position, usually it was me going under the radar which I still am, especially right now during this draft process, but I love being doubted and looked over because I get to prove and show what I can do and bring to the table. This season I felt that I played good and that I grew a lot as a player, it is actually funny because my redshirt sophomore and junior year I had like 23 and 22 passes defended those years and this year I only had 10 and people thought I was having a down year, but the thing was I would go games would people would not even throw my way unless they read it was a cover 3 concept and the flats are open, so the opportunity wasn’t there as much for me to make all of those plays which I was frustrated about sometimes, but I realize I am still impacting the game because this QB and OC have to worry about wear I am and not throw it to my side of the field, so I am having them dictate what they do off of me. All in All, I enjoyed my last year and grew a lot more as a player, and although we didn’t accomplish a lot of our ultimate goals as a team, I still feel that we left a legacy that changed IU football and will live on forever.
Joe Gaiter: How hungry are you to make the NFL?
Rashard Fant: I am very hungry to make it to the NFL and show that I can do what I did at the college level in the NFL. I want to accomplish my dream and strive to be one of the best in the game as well. I want to show all the people who support me and believe in me that they were right by doing so, and that the people who did not believe in me should have.
Joe Gaiter: What will you miss most about playing college ball?
Rashard Fant: I will mostly miss the locker room vibes and just the summers when we are really the only people on campus. Also, the weekends hanging out and having cookouts or going to hoop with the guys.
Joe Gaiter: What would you tell yourself if you could go back to your freshman year?
Rashard Fant: I would tell myself to get involve more and to not be so to myself all the time. I was involved in so much at IU my last three and a half years but at first I really only talked to like two or three people at the school and wasn’t really involved in anything.
Joe Gaiter: Why should someone pick you over someone that plays your same position?
Rashard Fant: I would say that each player brings something specific that not everybody has, but I think my knack for getting hands on balls and how I stick to receivers and the versatility that I have is something that is very hard to fine. Also, my competitiveness is very elite, I love a challenge, I love to win, I love when people doubt me, and I love to just compete and go out there and try to be as dominant as I can be.
Joe Gaiter: Have you reached your athletic peak?
Rashard Fant: I definitely have not reached my athletic peak, especially because I have only been playing the cornerback position since really my freshman year of college. I was mainly an offensive player in high school and began getting all my offers as just a receiver, and then I got labeled an athlete because of how many different positions I could play and how well I played all of them. I think I have plenty of room to grow and learn and that I have so much more room to get even better.
Joe Gaiter: What is your motivation on the field?
Rashard Fant: My motivation on the field is definitely my family because I want to make them proud and repay them for all the sacrifices that they made for me and how they have always supported me. Also, just wanting to be the best that I can be and show that I am one of the best at my position. Lastly, just wanting to use my talents to glorify God and use all that he gave me because without him I would not be in the positon that I am in or have the abilities that I have, so I am beyond grateful for everything he has done in my life and blessed me with.
Joe Gaiter: Do you have a backup if you don’t get drafted?
Rashard Fant: For me, I would say I haven’t thought about a backup plan just because I plan to be drafted or picked up by a team if I did not get drafted, but I will say that I feel that if football was taken out my life for some reason that I am very glad that I will have two degrees to fall back on, but right now I am just focused on playing football for as long as I can and just make the most of the opportunity I get.
Joe Gaiter: Who is your agent and why did you choose them?
Rashard Fant: I chose to sign with “The Sports and Entertainment Group”, who are headed by Adisa Bakari and Jeff Whitney. I decided to go with them because I felt that they cared the most about Rashard Fant the person and making sure that my family would be good in the long run and that I could have the chance to play football for as long as I can and then have opportunities in life after football is over.
Joe Gaiter: Where and how often are you training?
Rashard Fant: I have been training at Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Fl. I usually work out for about 6 days a week and get treatment on my body for about 2-3 hours 5 days out the week and then field, speed, and weight room work for about 3-4 hours those 6 days.
Joe Gaiter: When is your pro day?
Rashard Fant: My pro day is on April 3rd.
Joe Gaiter: What do you want your legacy to be?
Rashard Fant: I want my legacy as a football player to be a player that was underrated, doubted, and always looked passed his whole football career but ended up as one of the best to do it and one of the most dominant cover corners the league has seen over its time and that was ultra-competitive and a winner. Most importantly as a person, I want my legacy to be a person that positively impacted all the lives that I came in contact with and who gave back and help those in need. I want to be able to look back and said that I have helped make the world a better place and that I was genuinely a good person who cared about others and brought laughter, joy, and smiles to people.
Joe Gaiter: Joe Gaiter: Final Words/Shoutouts?
Rashard Fant: I want to first thank God for this amazing journey that he has me on and for all the many blessing of my life! Also, I want to thank my family and friends for believing in me and being understanding about my crazy busy and hectic schedule that I always have. Lastly, to kids out there I want to say always believe in yourself and know that you can be whatever you want to be, whether it is a doctor, artist, athlete, professor, or lawyer. Shoot for the stars and strive to be the best at whatever it is that you want. Thank you Gaiter Sports, for reaching out for the interview and allowing me to show everyone a little bit more of who I am as a person and football player.
Twitter is RashardFant
Instagram name is Rashardfant
Indiana’s Rashard Fant NFL Draft Interview with Joe Gaiter was last modified: March 27th, 2018 by Joseph Gaiter
