Gant attended Kathleen High School in Lakeland, Florida. He received a football scholarship from Albany State University, where although he came in as an offensive player, he was converted to the defensive side and became a four-year starter at cornerback. As a freshman, he posted 15 tackles, 3 interceptions and one pass defensed. The next year, he tallied 33 tackles, 3 interceptions and 6 passes defensed. As a junior, he recorded 55 tackles, 3 sacks and 6 passes defensed. He also made 7 tackles against Fort Valley State University. As senior, he registered 55 tackles, 5 interceptions and one blocked punt. He had 6 tackles and one interception against Savannah State University. In his college career he only missed on game, finishing with 158 tackles, 14 interceptions, 17 passes defensed and 4 fumble recoveries.
Gant was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the ninth round of the 1990 NFL draft. During training camp he was tried at cornerback, but the team eventually moved him to safety. As a rookie, he was activated from the injured reserve list on October 1. In 1991, from his gunner position he led the Cowboys special teams with 25 tackles. He also registered 14 defensive tackles and 3 passes defensed. He started at left cornerback in the eleventh game against the New York Giants. He was a kickoff returner in the last 9 games of the season. In 1992, he was moved from cornerback to strong safety and the defense led the NFL in preventing third-down conversions, allowing opponents a conversion rate of 27.2 percent. He finished with 13 special teams tackles, three sacks, nine quarterback pressures, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, 10 passes defensed, one blocked punt and led backup players in defensive tackles. In 1993, he was third on the team with 17 special teams tackles. He also was a kickoff returner in the first 4 games of the season. In the playoffs against the Atlanta Falcons, he forced 2 fumbles in the third quarter to help setup 2 touchdowns. In 1993, he missed most of training camp after suffering a separated left shoulder in preseason against the Detroit Lions. He played in 12 games, collecting 17 special teams tackles, one interception, 11 passes defensed and led backup players in defensive tackles. In 1994, he had 15 special teams tackles, one interception, 4 passes defensed and 15 defensive tackles. Gant was a member of the Cowboys Super Bowl XXVII and Super Bowl XXVIII championship teams. He was nicknamed "The Shark" because during the 1992 season, before every kickoff and after making big plays, he would perform a celebratory dance dubbed "The Shark Dance". Typically, he would strut around, flapping his elbows while holding his hand over his head to simulate a shark's dorsal fin, a move that he learned from teammate Kevin Smith, who called it "the Shark Fin" from his days at Texas A&M University, where defensive backs used it to celebrate.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On March 23, 1995, Gant signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was waived on November 28, 1997. Gant finished his NFL career after three seasons with the Buccaneers; he ranked second on the team in special teams tackles in 1995 and third in 1996. Gant later played for the Mobile Admirals in the short-lived Regional Football Leaguein 1999.
Personal life
Gant is married and has two children. He resided in Tampa, Florida, where he is the Founder and Pastor of Faith Works Ministries International.
