Indiana University Athletics
Fant Embracing Life As No. 1 Cornerback
11/18/2015 1:37:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Rashard Fant has gotten tested this season.
Maybe even more than he originally expected.
The redshirt sophomore is Indiana's No. 1 cornerback in an injury-depleted backfield that was already inexperienced to begin with. As a result, Fant has been on the field for virtually every snap—defensive and special teams—since Indiana's win against Wake Forest in week four.
"He hasn't had one break," secondary coach Brandon Shelby said. "That's what he's got to do."
Michigan ran 74 total offensive plays against Indiana last week. Of those 74 plays, 46 were passes and seven more were quarterback scrambles that forced Indiana to respect the pass coverage 53 times.
Shelby said a majority of those 53 pass plays left Fant in man-to-man coverage with no help against Michigan's top receiver on the field. It's a scenario Fant has quickly gotten all too familiar with this season.
"That's life when you want to be the top corner," Fant said. "It's not always going to be easy, but somebody's got to do it."
Being a cornerback requires isolation. Opposing offenses want their top receiver in space to make plays one-on-one against an oftentimes undersized corner.
Fant's job is finding a way to slow them down. Then he lines up to do it again.
Then again.
"We put a lot on his hands," Sheby said.
Fant tries to stay locked in as best he can knowing he's not getting relieved any time soon. His 16 pass breakups are tied for fifth in the nation.
That part is good, Fant said, but not great. He's more concerned with what he doesn't have.
"I really need a pick," he said.
He's well aware he still doesn't have an interception to his credit this season and knows time is running out to get one. He said turning batted balls into picks is what separates the good corners from the great corners.
Fant expects to be great.
"I'm never pleased," Fant said. "There's always room to get better. There's always something you can add to your game."
This season is still all relatively new for Fant, who redshirted his true freshman season before playing in all 12 games last fall.
Fant has moved up the chain of command as the veteran cornerback of a cornerbacks' room a little earlier than he'd have anticipated.
"You start looking around the field and realize, 'Man, I'm that guy now,'" Fant said. "When you're suddenly the guy people are looking at, it changes you a little bit. You really want to start making the plays not only for yourself, but you're making plays for these other guys you're playing with"
Fant is going to get beat. He's going to get scored on. He knows that already.
It's a product of modern football, Shelby said. Offenses are as talented and as technical as ever, but he said Fant can't allow that to become his excuse.
"We need more from him," Shelby said. "He's a guy that's a leader for us as far as defending the pass. With the game on the line, he's got to make those plays."
Fant will have his opportunities against Maryland this weekend. He's not getting a break any time soon.
He doesn't mind either. That's the life of a No. 1 cornerback.
"I love it," Fant said. "You make a play, it's the greatest feeling. If you get beat, you've got another chance to make a play. So go make it."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Rashard Fant has gotten tested this season.
Maybe even more than he originally expected.
The redshirt sophomore is Indiana's No. 1 cornerback in an injury-depleted backfield that was already inexperienced to begin with. As a result, Fant has been on the field for virtually every snap—defensive and special teams—since Indiana's win against Wake Forest in week four.
"He hasn't had one break," secondary coach Brandon Shelby said. "That's what he's got to do."
Michigan ran 74 total offensive plays against Indiana last week. Of those 74 plays, 46 were passes and seven more were quarterback scrambles that forced Indiana to respect the pass coverage 53 times.
Shelby said a majority of those 53 pass plays left Fant in man-to-man coverage with no help against Michigan's top receiver on the field. It's a scenario Fant has quickly gotten all too familiar with this season.
"That's life when you want to be the top corner," Fant said. "It's not always going to be easy, but somebody's got to do it."
Being a cornerback requires isolation. Opposing offenses want their top receiver in space to make plays one-on-one against an oftentimes undersized corner.
Fant's job is finding a way to slow them down. Then he lines up to do it again.
Then again.
"We put a lot on his hands," Sheby said.
Fant tries to stay locked in as best he can knowing he's not getting relieved any time soon. His 16 pass breakups are tied for fifth in the nation.
That part is good, Fant said, but not great. He's more concerned with what he doesn't have.
"I really need a pick," he said.
He's well aware he still doesn't have an interception to his credit this season and knows time is running out to get one. He said turning batted balls into picks is what separates the good corners from the great corners.
Fant expects to be great.
"I'm never pleased," Fant said. "There's always room to get better. There's always something you can add to your game."
This season is still all relatively new for Fant, who redshirted his true freshman season before playing in all 12 games last fall.
Fant has moved up the chain of command as the veteran cornerback of a cornerbacks' room a little earlier than he'd have anticipated.
"You start looking around the field and realize, 'Man, I'm that guy now,'" Fant said. "When you're suddenly the guy people are looking at, it changes you a little bit. You really want to start making the plays not only for yourself, but you're making plays for these other guys you're playing with"
Fant is going to get beat. He's going to get scored on. He knows that already.
It's a product of modern football, Shelby said. Offenses are as talented and as technical as ever, but he said Fant can't allow that to become his excuse.
"We need more from him," Shelby said. "He's a guy that's a leader for us as far as defending the pass. With the game on the line, he's got to make those plays."
Fant will have his opportunities against Maryland this weekend. He's not getting a break any time soon.
He doesn't mind either. That's the life of a No. 1 cornerback.
"I love it," Fant said. "You make a play, it's the greatest feeling. If you get beat, you've got another chance to make a play. So go make it."
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