Today we touch on a player that is extremely talented but had a tough year in 2019.
9 -- WR Adrian Hardy (RS SR) -- Hardy signed with Oklahoma in the 2016 recruiting cycle over an offer from Texas A&M. He showed up to Norman, quickly decided to transfer, Tech landed him. He was forced to sit out the 2016 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Hardy was the 58th ranked athlete in the country out of HS. He is from Houston, TX.
2017 - 18 catches, 251 yards, 1 TD (missed 7 games due to a hamstring injury)
2018 - 75 catches, 1,145 yards, 6 TDs
2019 - 42 catches, 534 yards, 1 TD
Hardy broke out in 2018 with a phenomenal sophomore season. He had 5 100-yard plus yard performances. He was a 2nd Team All-CUSA selection.
Anyone remember what he did to the 2 NFL CBs at LSU? 10 catches, 181 yards, and 2 TDs. The kid can play.
Coming into 2019, it was expected that he would have an even better season and perhaps enter the NFL Draft a year early. Maybe that got in his head? We'll never know, but the season didn't go as expected.
Early in the year he was double covered a ton, he was visibly frustrated, missed the USM game due to injury, and then the suspension that came late in the season. We all need a reality check at some point in life, maybe this was his.
What went wrong in 2019? On the field, I honestly think Tech had more options at WR than the prior season. That increased depth allowed Tech to not have to force the ball to him as much. He's the type of player, like most WRs, that needs targets to get in a rhythm. He never really got in that rhythm and we could see the frustration at times.
After dropping 13 passes in 2018, he only dropped 3 in 2019. Much improved.
Crush him all you want for his lack of effort at times, but he's a very willing run blocker. He's the best run blocking WR on Tech's roster and it's not close. PFF graded him out as an 82 as a run blocker in 2019, that's effort.
The off-field issues? We are all aware that Hardy, J'Mar Smith, and James Jackson were suspended late in the year. It obviously came at the worst time possible, for all 3 guys. Ed Jackson has been a HUGE mentor to Adrian during his time in Ruston and will continue to be. He's helped Adrian a ton, and we can only hope that Adrian continues to mature.
The outlook for 2020? One thing is for certain, when you look at guys that have the POTENTIAL to play in the NFL, there's not a more talented player on Tech's roster. Obviously a lot more goes into become an NFL Draft Pick than just talent. Hardy will return as Tech's top outside WR in 2020. Can he get on the same page with QB Luke Anthony? I think we'll see him get more one-on-one opportunities in 2020. He's very good at winning 50/50 balls, but he's not a burner that is going to out run a DB on a vertical or post route. More of a possession guy in that aspect.
I hope Adrian bounces back in 2020, he's a good kid that had a tough year in 2019. If he's at his best, this offense can score 35-40 points per game.
Thoughts on Hardy for 2020?
9 -- WR Adrian Hardy (RS SR) -- Hardy signed with Oklahoma in the 2016 recruiting cycle over an offer from Texas A&M. He showed up to Norman, quickly decided to transfer, Tech landed him. He was forced to sit out the 2016 season due to NCAA transfer rules. Hardy was the 58th ranked athlete in the country out of HS. He is from Houston, TX.
2017 - 18 catches, 251 yards, 1 TD (missed 7 games due to a hamstring injury)
2018 - 75 catches, 1,145 yards, 6 TDs
2019 - 42 catches, 534 yards, 1 TD
Hardy broke out in 2018 with a phenomenal sophomore season. He had 5 100-yard plus yard performances. He was a 2nd Team All-CUSA selection.
Anyone remember what he did to the 2 NFL CBs at LSU? 10 catches, 181 yards, and 2 TDs. The kid can play.
Coming into 2019, it was expected that he would have an even better season and perhaps enter the NFL Draft a year early. Maybe that got in his head? We'll never know, but the season didn't go as expected.
Early in the year he was double covered a ton, he was visibly frustrated, missed the USM game due to injury, and then the suspension that came late in the season. We all need a reality check at some point in life, maybe this was his.
What went wrong in 2019? On the field, I honestly think Tech had more options at WR than the prior season. That increased depth allowed Tech to not have to force the ball to him as much. He's the type of player, like most WRs, that needs targets to get in a rhythm. He never really got in that rhythm and we could see the frustration at times.
After dropping 13 passes in 2018, he only dropped 3 in 2019. Much improved.
Crush him all you want for his lack of effort at times, but he's a very willing run blocker. He's the best run blocking WR on Tech's roster and it's not close. PFF graded him out as an 82 as a run blocker in 2019, that's effort.
The off-field issues? We are all aware that Hardy, J'Mar Smith, and James Jackson were suspended late in the year. It obviously came at the worst time possible, for all 3 guys. Ed Jackson has been a HUGE mentor to Adrian during his time in Ruston and will continue to be. He's helped Adrian a ton, and we can only hope that Adrian continues to mature.
The outlook for 2020? One thing is for certain, when you look at guys that have the POTENTIAL to play in the NFL, there's not a more talented player on Tech's roster. Obviously a lot more goes into become an NFL Draft Pick than just talent. Hardy will return as Tech's top outside WR in 2020. Can he get on the same page with QB Luke Anthony? I think we'll see him get more one-on-one opportunities in 2020. He's very good at winning 50/50 balls, but he's not a burner that is going to out run a DB on a vertical or post route. More of a possession guy in that aspect.
I hope Adrian bounces back in 2020, he's a good kid that had a tough year in 2019. If he's at his best, this offense can score 35-40 points per game.
Thoughts on Hardy for 2020?
