Iowa Football: George Kittle Injury Creates Opportunity for Noah Fant

A limited or injured George Kittle creates a big opportunity for young tight end Noah Fant

Iowa football is coming off their best showing of the season. The Hawkeyes scored 49 points, scoring six offensive touchdowns, and the starters dominated Purdue’s defense for three quarters.

Despite the strong play from the offense, tight end George Kittle left in the first quarter after spraining his foot on a flat route that resulted in a nine yard reception. He returned to the sideline in the second half wearing a walking boot and did not return. While Iowa still dominated without one of their most important players on offense, it was against Purdue, and Wisconsin poses a much bigger threat on Saturday.

Good news came to Iowa City, though. Iowa listed Kittle as the starting tight end against Wisconsin, although that could change by the end of the week. While it’s a positive sign that Iowa expects Kittle to at least be healthy enough to suit up, the initial depth chart comes out on Monday, therefore Iowa still has all week to fully assess the situation.

There is a chance that Kittle won’t be active, or limited, this week by his foot sprain. It would make the Hawkeyes’ receiving core even more disastrous considering top wide receiver Matt VandeBerg is out for the year, as well. It would open the door for true freshman tight end Noah Fant to have his first significant role of the season, though.

Losing Kittle would be a huge loss for the Hawkeyes against one of the best defenses in the nation. Aside from his ability as a receiver, Kittle is one of the better blocking tight ends in the nation.

This week’s game against Wisconsin will be a ground it out type of game where both teams will want to run. It will be even harder to run on a defense allowing a mere 3.4 yards per carry without an important blocker. Sure, Peter Pekar has proven to be a solid blocking tight end for Iowa, although Kittle is obviously on a different tier and Pekar doesn’t offer much in the passing game.

Pekar is listed higher on the depth chart, however he has no receptions in his career and is mostly used on running downs. He might get more action if Kittle is not 100 percent or has to sit out, but the biggest beneficiary is Iowa’s highest rated recruit in 2016, Noah Fant.

The true freshman came in with high expectations, but it’s no surprise that he’s had a hard time getting on the field with Kittle and Pekar ahead of him. He only has four receptions for 21 yards and a touchdown on the season.

Although, he saw an increased role in the offense during Iowa’s blowout win over Purdue. Fant recorded 21 yards and an impressive touchdown on two catches. Fant’s touchdown grab was initially ruled out, however after a review it became evident that Fant was able to barely drag his left foot inbounds to complete the touchdown.

Along with an impressive touchdown catch, Fant proved to be a better blocker than most people expected. Sure, it came against a banged up Purdue defensive line in a blowout, and it’s a small sample size, but he held his own, nonetheless. It’s not to suggest that he can dominate T.J. Watt or Jack Cichy, but he doesn’t need to be another offensive lineman, he just can’t get beat at the line every play.

With Boone Myers and Cole Croston banged up, it makes sense why some may view Pekar as the more appetizing option. He’s a better blocker and has more experience, something important against a top-10 team. At the same time, Pekar hasn’t shown any ability as a receiver and Iowa will need that aspect badly, as well.

As often as Iowa wants to run the ball, they will still have to eventually pass, too. Even though Riley McCarron has stepped up and filled VandeBerg’s role as Iowa’s slot receiver, they can’t solely rely on one receiver who has a tendency to drop passes. Besides McCarron, Iowa relies on a home run play from Jerminic Smith, something Wisconsin’s defense doesn’t give up often.

At 6-5, 220 pounds, Fant has great size to cement himself as a solid option for C.J. Beathard, especially in the red zone where Kittle has been an integral part for the past two seasons. He can pick up short gains on quick routes, which is evident by his 5.3 yards per catch. That will be important considering Beathard won’t have a ton of time to throw against the Badgers on Saturday.

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When it comes down to it, Iowa doesn’t want to throw their true freshman tight end into the fire against the tenth ranked team in the nation, but they might not have a choice. If Kittle is ineffective or can’t suit up, Fant’s serviceable blocking and better ability as a receiver, compared to Pekar, sets him up to finally have the first significant role of his career on Saturday.