Iowa lands big recruiting prize from Omaha

Nebraskan Noah Fant became Iowa’s 23rd – and one of its most heralded – Class of 2016 football recruits when he announced his college decision Friday morning during a radio show in his native Omaha.

The Omaha South High School senior stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 210 pounds and projects as a tight end at the Division I level. His other finalists were Nebraska, UCLA, Vanderbilt and California. He was also offered by Iowa State, but the Cyclones didn’t make the final five.

Fant is a terrific student and wants to study sports medicine with an eye on becoming an orthopedic surgeon. That, plus playing within driving distance of home and at one of Iowa’s most iconic positions, made Iowa City the best fit.

He told AM 1620 The Zone on Friday that he liked “the way (the Hawkeyes) pump out tight ends” to the NFL.

“The fact that they pass to the tight ends a lot was a really big factor,” Fant said.

He said ideally he’ll gain 20 to 30 pounds, which would put him in the range of a 6-5, 240 tight end.

“That’s where I think I’ll flourish the most in college,” he said.

Fant is classified as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com, but he comes with one of the best offer lists of any Hawkeye commitment. Before Fant’s decision, Iowa’s class ranked 24th nationally according to Rivals. Chariton’s T.J. Hockenson (6-5, 230) is the only other tight end committed to the Hawkeyes for 2016.  Iowa is expected to sign around 25 players in this class.