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Iowa football: Four Hawks look to improve draft stock at 2019 NFL Combine

By Andrew Wade

IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 20: Tight end Noah Fant #87 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs up the field during the second half in front of defensive back Darnell Savage #4 of the Maryland Terrapins on October 20, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- OCTOBER 20: Tight end Noah Fant #87 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs up the field during the second half in front of defensive back Darnell Savage #4 of the Maryland Terrapins on October 20, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 24: Tight end Noah Fant #87 of the Iowa Hawkeyes backs into the end zone for a touchdown against wide receiver Joshua Kalu #46 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 24: Tight end Noah Fant #87 of the Iowa Hawkeyes backs into the end zone for a touchdown against wide receiver Joshua Kalu #46 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

Noah Fant

Noah Fant is the least surprising player on this list, and likely has the least to gain from a big combine performance.

He’s been getting mocked in the first round since before the 2018 Iowa football season. Despite being overshadowed by John Mackey Award winner and teammate TJ Hockenson this past season, Fant still put together a quietly superb season that did nothing to dispel the notion that he can be an elite level tight end at the next level.

He is expected to run fast, jump high, and likely have the best testing performances of any tight end in this year’s class. To be honest, anything less than that is a let down unless someone just comes out of nowhere to surpass him in a few areas.

My only concern with Fant at the NFL Combine is that much of the hype and draft buzz around him is predicated on his athleticism. If for whatever reason he doesn’t test well (which for what it’s worth is incredibly unlikely), that could actually hurt his stock.

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