Jump to content

Justin Hardy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused withJustin Hardee.

Justin Hardy
refer to caption
Hardy with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2023
No. 2 –Ottawa Redblacks
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:(1991-12-18)December 18, 1991(age 32)
Washington, North Carolina,U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:192 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school:West Craven
(Vanceboro, North Carolina)
College:East Carolina(2010–2014)
NFL draft:2015/ round: 4 / pick: 107
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
CFL status:American
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:95
Receiving yards:946
Receiving touchdowns:9
Career CFL statistics
Targets:189
Receptions:129
Receiving yards:1425
Receiving touchdowns:3
Player stats atPFR·CFL.ca

Justin Hardy(born December 18, 1991) is an American professionalfootballwide receiverfor theOttawa Redblacksof theCanadian Football League(CFL). He was drafted by theAtlanta Falconsin the fourth round of the2015 NFL draft.He playedcollege footballatEast Carolina.Hardy was theNCAAall-timereceptionleader until his former teammateZay Jonesovertook his record during the 2016 season.

Early life

[edit]

Hardy attendedWest Craven High SchoolinVanceboro, North Carolina.As a senior on thefootballteam, he playedquarterbackafter previously being awide receiver.[1]That season, he passed for 2,500 yards and had 35 passingtouchdowns.Hardy also picked two additionallettersas ashootingandpoint guardinbasketballand another intrackas ahigh jumper(best of 6-4 or 1.93m).[2]

College career

[edit]

Hardy wasredshirtedas a freshman atEast Carolina Universityin 2010, a season in which hewalked on.[3]After earning ascholarshipin spring 2011,[3]he started eight of 10 games in his redshirt freshman season in 2011, recording a school freshman record 64receptionsfor 658 yards and six touchdowns.[4]As a sophomore in 2012 Hardy was an All-Conference USAfirst-team selection after recording 88 receptions for 1,105 yards and 11 touchdowns.[5]As a junior in 2013, Hardy was again first-team All-Conference USA after setting school records for receptions (114) and receiving yards (1,284) in a season.[6]During the first game of his senior season in 2014, he set East Carolina's record for career receptions, passingDwayne Harris' 268.[7]On November 22, 2014, against Tulane, Hardy became theNCAA's all-time leading receptions leader, passingRyan Broyles' 349.[8][9]On December 8, 2014, Hardy was named the winner of that season'sBurlsworth Trophy,awarded annually to the most outstanding player who began his college career as a walk-on.[3]For the season, Hardy had 121 receptions for 1,494 yards and 10 touchdowns.[10]

Hardy finished his collegiate career with 387 receptions for 4,541 yards and 35 touchdowns.[11]

Statistics

[edit]
East Carolina Pirates
Season GP Receiving Rushing Punt Return
Rec Yds Avg TD Att Yds Avg TD Att Yds Avg TD
2011 10 64 658 10.3 6 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0 0
2012 13 88 1,105 12.6 11 0 0 0.0 0 20 175 8.8 0
2013 13 114 1,284 11.3 8 0 0 0.0 0 20 225 11.3 0
2014 13 121 1,494 12.3 10 1 7 7.0 1 23 95 4.1 0
Career[12] 49 387 4,541 11.7 35 1 7 7.0 1 63 495 7.9 0

Professional career

[edit]
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft10+1⁄4in
(1.78 m) 		192 lb
(87 kg) 		32+1⁄8in
(0.82 m) 		10 in
(0.25 m)		 4.56 s 1.57 s 2.62 s 4.21 s 6.63 s 36.5 in
(0.93 m)		 9 ft 6 in
(2.90 m)		 11 reps
All values fromNFL Combine[13][14]
Hardy with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015

Atlanta Falcons

[edit]

Hardy was selected by theAtlanta Falconsin the fourth round (107th overall) in the2015 NFL draft.[15]In hisrookie season,Hardy played in nine games, catching 21 passes for 194 yards.[16]In Week 2 of the2016 season,against theOakland Raiders,Hardy scored his first career touchdown when he caught adeflected passfromMatt Ryanin the end zone.[17]In the 2016 season, he had 21 receptions for 203 yards and four touchdowns.[18]Hardy and the Falcons reachedSuper Bowl LI,where they faced theNew England Patriots.In the Super Bowl, Hardy had two kickoff returns for 17 total yards as the Falcons fell in a 34–28 overtime defeat.[19]In the 2017 season, Hardy recorded 20 receptions for 221 yards and three touchdowns.[20]On March 21, 2019, Hardy re-signed with the Falcons.[21]During the 2019 season, Hardy caught 19 passes for 195 yards.

Chicago Bears

[edit]

On July 27, 2021, Hardy signed with theChicago Bears.[22]He was released on August 17, 2021.[23]

Ottawa Redblacks

[edit]

On March 18, 2022, Hardy signed with theOttawa Redblacksof theCanadian Football League(CFL).[24]

In 2023, Hardy enjoyed a break-out season with the Redblacks, catching 85 passes for 1,009 yards 3 touchdowns, and was selected as aCFL EastDivision All-Star. In February 2024, his contract with the Redblacks was extended.[25]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"DeCock: Justin Hardy embodies The ECU Way".Archived fromthe originalon December 29, 2014.RetrievedOctober 5,2014.
  2. ^"NCHSAA 3A East Regional - Results (Raw)".
  3. ^abc"Justin Hardy Named 2014 Burlsworth Trophy Winner"(Press release).ECU Athletics.December 8, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon December 9, 2014.RetrievedDecember 8,2014.
  4. ^"East Carolina sophomore Justin Hardy turning heads at receiver".
  5. ^"ECU receiver Justin Hardy rises through record book".
  6. ^Thompson, Adam (April 12, 2014)."Football: ECU's Hardy closes final spring".New Bern Sun Journal.RetrievedNovember 6,2023.
  7. ^"East Carolina's Justin Hardy pulls off hat trick".
  8. ^"ECU's Hardy sets FBS career catches mark".November 22, 2014.
  9. ^"ECU WR Justin Hardy breaks FBS career receiving record".
  10. ^"Justin Hardy 2014 Game Log".College Football at Sports-Reference.com.RetrievedJanuary 1,2018.
  11. ^"Justin Hardy Career Game Log".College Football at Sports-Reference.com.RetrievedDecember 25,2017.
  12. ^"Justin Hardy".www.sports-reference.com.Sports Reference LLC.RetrievedSeptember 18,2016.
  13. ^"Justin Hardy Draft and Combine Prospect Profile".NFL.com.RetrievedSeptember 19,2016.
  14. ^"2015 NFL Draft Scout Justin Hardy College Football Profile".DraftScout.com.RetrievedOctober 15,2023.
  15. ^McClure, Vaughn (May 2, 2015)."Total breakdown: Falcons draft WR Justin Hardy in fourth round".ESPN.com.RetrievedFebruary 19,2024.
  16. ^Justin Hardy.pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  17. ^McClure, Vaughn.Falcons work through their red zone struggles on road in win over Raiders.ESPN.com September 18, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  18. ^"Justin Hardy 2016 Game Log".Pro-Football-Reference.com.RetrievedJanuary 1,2018.
  19. ^"Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017".Pro-Football-Reference.com.RetrievedAugust 6,2017.
  20. ^"Justin Hardy 2017 Game Log".Pro-Football-Reference.com.RetrievedJanuary 1,2018.
  21. ^McFadden, Will (March 21, 2019)."Falcons agree to terms with Justin Hardy".AtlantaFalcons.com.
  22. ^"Bears sign wide outs Justin Hardy and Jon'Vea Johnson, waive two".Windy City Gridiron.SB Nation. July 27, 2021.
  23. ^Desai, Aalap (August 17, 2021)."Bears Roster Cuts Update; Roster Trim Down Deadlines".On Tap Sports Net.RetrievedMarch 18,2022.
  24. ^"Ex-Falcons WR Hardy among three Americans signed by Redblacks - TSN.ca".TSN.The Canadian Press. March 18, 2022.RetrievedMarch 18,2022.
  25. ^"REDBLACKS extend East Division All-Star Justin Hardy - CFL.ca".cfl.ca.February 5, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 5,2024.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related toJustin Hardy.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Justin_Hardy&oldid=1239506855"