Not long after his former teammate went off the board, Noah Fant heard his name called, as well.

The Denver Broncos selected Fant No. 20 overall Thursday in Nashville. The former Iowa standout was selected 12 picks after fellow tight end T.J. Hockenson, marking the first time in NFL draft history that tight end teammates were selected in the same first round.

Although Fant's projection wasn't as concrete as Hockenson's, there was plenty to love about the 6-foot-5, 241-pound Omaha native. Fant's size, speed and combine results squashed any concerns about usage and attitude that briefly arose in Iowa City.

Fant has been ready for this for quite some time. He skipped the Hawkeyes' bowl game and turned his full focus to the next level. He was rewarded Thursday night with a solid landing spot.

"It's amazing," Fant told reporters in Nashville this week. "A lot of people here supporting me, and essentially, this is your future. The team that picks you is something very special. Definitely looking forward to getting ready."

Dargan Southard covers Iowa and UNI athletics, recruiting and preps for the Des Moines Register, HawkCentral.com and the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Email him at msouthard@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.