A little more than a year ago, Tony Fair’s duties included handling water bottles and towels instead of taking on centers and guards.
The 6-foot-3, 330-pound defensive tackle graduated from Washington High in South Bend, Indiana, in 2014 and signed with Indiana State as part of the FCS school’s 2015 class. He redshirted that fall and had injury issues — reportedly concussion-related — keep him from participating in 2016. In the meantime, he was a team manager for the Sycamores. Coaches there thought his career was over.
In 2014, he thought his journey would be straightforward. Follow one of his closest friends, defensive back Haki Woods, to Indiana State and stay there.