A twitter post from WKU Football’s official account and subsequent article by the Bowling Green Daily News’ Zach Greenwell has WKU fans buzzing about George Fant. 

Fant, who just completed one of the most illustrious careers in Hilltopper basketball history, was pictured on Twitter training with WKU football strength and conditioning coach Justin Lovett. 

The caption read: “Working w/ @justin_lovett, former @WKUBasketball star George Fant seeing how he likes football w/ the Tops #GoTops. 

Naturally, social media erupted at the idea that one of the best Hilltoppers to ever wear a basketball uniform would return for a fifth year in shoulder pads and a helmet. 

The idea is a proven one… former New Orleans Saint turned Seattle Seahawk Jimmy Graham, Denver Bronco turned Jacksonville Jaguar Julius Thomas, San Diego Charger Antonio Gates, and retired future hall of famer Tony Gonzalez, just to name a few, were all basketball players in college that moved on to exceptional careers in the NFL. 

And how much would Hilltopper fans like to see one of the best quarterbacks in WKU history— Brandon Doughty— throw to the six-foot-six, 250 pound Fant if he were to suit up at the tight end position? I know I would.  

The rumors, which are up to this point more or less hearsay, have nonetheless kept WKU fans on their toes, begging for more information. 

The facts are that just a few days before the twitter post, Fant told the Daily News that he was not considering playing one season of football at WKU. 

Student-athletes receive five years of athletic eligibility at their institution, four per sport, which leaves the hometown hero the option of dressing up in a slightly different red and white for one last go-around. 

The question obviously would be why.  Fant has been focusing on basketball since high school— not playing a game of organized, full-contact football since middle school. 

Allegedly, several unknown NFL teams have expressed interest in Fant, and the Daily News reports that Fant has even made a combine-type video and sent it to several organizations. 

For now, no commitment has been made by the program or Fant, but it’s safe to say that Fant is in good hands working with Lovett, who has proven experience working with former college basketball stars in the NFL. 

Lovett trained the aforementioned Julius Thomas when Lovett was part of the Broncos strength and conditioning staff. Thomas played four years of basketball at Portland State before coming back for just one season of football and was, subsequently, drafted. 

Surely the senior has some sort of idea as to which way he is leaning, but for now his lips are sealed. With spring training completely over and the season still far off in the distance, his lips could remain sealed for quite a bit longer.