James Hardy (American football)
Encyclopedia
James W. Hardy, III is an American football
wide receiver
for the Baltimore Ravens
. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills
in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft
and played college football
at Indiana University
.
, where he played football
and basketball
. As a senior, he posted 34 catches for 710 yards and 10 touchdown
s and was a Class 4A all-state selection by the Indiana Football Coaches Association.
As a basketball player, he was runner-up in the Mr. Basketball voting and an Indiana All-Star. He ranks high on the list for the city scoring record for Fort Wayne, with over 2,000 points during his four years at Elmhurst. Hardy led Elmhurst to a state championship appearance his senior. However, Elmhurst was defeated by Bishop Chatard High School
from Indianapolis
.
Hardy was also a two-time winner of the Tiffany Gooden award.
as a true freshman in 2004. As a redshirt freshman in 2005, he posted 61 catches for 893 yards and 10 touchdowns. His play earned him a Freshman All-America
selection.
He followed his stellar freshman season with another good one as he hauled in 51 passes for 722 yards and 10 touchdowns and was named Second Team All-Big Ten
for a second straight year. His 20 career receiving touchdowns in his first two years had tied him with Ernie Jones
(1984–1987) for second on the university's all-time list, trailing only Jade Butcher (1967–1969) and his 30 career TD grabs.
As a junior, Hardy caught 74 catches for 1,075 yards—ranking third in the Big Ten in both categories—and became the Hoosiers' all-time receiving leader in touchdowns (36), yards (2,690) and receptions (186). He was selected first team All-Big Ten selection, a Fred Biletnikoff Award
semifinalist and the team's most valuable player.
During his time at Indiana, Hardy also played on the basketball team
for two years.
In January 2008, Hardy declared himself eligible for the 2008 NFL Draft
, saying "I have reached the pinnacle of my college football
career".http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080105/SPORTS0601/801050469/-1/LOCAL17
in the second round (41st overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He signed a multi-year contract with the team on July 24.
On September 14, 2008, in his second game, Hardy caught his first touchdown late in a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars
. He finished the campaign with 9 catches for 87 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Hardy played in only 2 games all season, catching 1 pass for 9 yards.
On September 4, 2010 Hardy was released by the Bills.
.http://www.macsfootballblog.com/2011/01/ravens-sign-wr-james-hardy-to-future.html
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
and played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Indiana University
Indiana Hoosiers football
The Indiana Hoosiers football program represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and in the Big Ten Conference.-Bowl games:...
.
High School career
Hardy attended Elmhurst High SchoolElmhurst High School
Elmhurst High School was a public high school with a comprehensive intake and over 1,000 students. Elmhurst High School was part of the Fort Wayne Community Schools school district, serving those living in the Waynedale area of Fort Wayne...
, where he played football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. As a senior, he posted 34 catches for 710 yards and 10 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s and was a Class 4A all-state selection by the Indiana Football Coaches Association.
As a basketball player, he was runner-up in the Mr. Basketball voting and an Indiana All-Star. He ranks high on the list for the city scoring record for Fort Wayne, with over 2,000 points during his four years at Elmhurst. Hardy led Elmhurst to a state championship appearance his senior. However, Elmhurst was defeated by Bishop Chatard High School
Bishop Chatard High School
Bishop Chatard High School is a Catholic co-educational preparatory high school located in the Broad Ripple district of Indianapolis, Indiana in the United States...
from Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
.
Hardy was also a two-time winner of the Tiffany Gooden award.
College career
Hardy redshirtedRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
as a true freshman in 2004. As a redshirt freshman in 2005, he posted 61 catches for 893 yards and 10 touchdowns. His play earned him a Freshman All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
selection.
He followed his stellar freshman season with another good one as he hauled in 51 passes for 722 yards and 10 touchdowns and was named Second Team All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
for a second straight year. His 20 career receiving touchdowns in his first two years had tied him with Ernie Jones
Ernie Jones (American football)
Ernest Jones is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for six seasons for the Phoenix Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams.ear Age Tm Pos No...
(1984–1987) for second on the university's all-time list, trailing only Jade Butcher (1967–1969) and his 30 career TD grabs.
As a junior, Hardy caught 74 catches for 1,075 yards—ranking third in the Big Ten in both categories—and became the Hoosiers' all-time receiving leader in touchdowns (36), yards (2,690) and receptions (186). He was selected first team All-Big Ten selection, a Fred Biletnikoff Award
Fred Biletnikoff Award
The Fred Biletnikoff Award has been presented since 1994 to America's top college football receiver by the TQC Foundation, Inc. , an independent not-for-profit organization which created the award in 1994 and has sponsored it since...
semifinalist and the team's most valuable player.
During his time at Indiana, Hardy also played on the basketball team
Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Indiana University . The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the NCAA. The Hoosiers play on Branch McCracken Court at the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana on the IU...
for two years.
In January 2008, Hardy declared himself eligible for the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
, saying "I have reached the pinnacle of my college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
career".http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080105/SPORTS0601/801050469/-1/LOCAL17
Pre-draft
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Hardy was a top 10 performer in the bench press, broad jump, 3-cone drill, and 20-yard shuttle. In the bench press Hardy finished 9th among WRs with 18 reps at 225 pounds. Hardy finished 8th in the broad jump with a distance of 10'5". He finished 7th in the 3-cone drill with a time of 6.84 seconds. He also finished tied for 7th in the 20-yard shuttle with a time of 4.20 seconds. Official 40-yard dash was 4.49.Buffalo Bills
Hardy was drafted by the Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second round (41st overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He signed a multi-year contract with the team on July 24.
On September 14, 2008, in his second game, Hardy caught his first touchdown late in a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He finished the campaign with 9 catches for 87 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Hardy played in only 2 games all season, catching 1 pass for 9 yards.
On September 4, 2010 Hardy was released by the Bills.
Baltimore Ravens
On January 17, 2011 Hardy was signed to a reserve/future contract by the Baltimore RavensBaltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
.http://www.macsfootballblog.com/2011/01/ravens-sign-wr-james-hardy-to-future.html