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JaQuan Hardy

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JaQuan Hardy
Personal information
Born: (1997-12-31) December 31, 1997 (age 26)
East Cleveland, Ohio
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:Westlake High School
College:Tiffin University (2016–2020)
Position:Running back
Undrafted:2021
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • 2019 G-MAC Athlete of the Year
  • 2019 G-MAC First-team All-Conference
  • G-MAC Rushing Record (Tied)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards:29
Rushing average:7.3
Rushing touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Stats at CFL.ca

JaQuan Hardy (born December 31, 1997) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at Tiffin University.

Early life

[edit]

Hardy was born in East Cleveland, Ohio, on December 31, 1997, and attended Westlake High School, where he rushed for 1,800 yards, 23 touchdowns, and over 2,500 yards of total offense and received Second-team All-Ohio performer honors.[1]

College career

[edit]

Hardy accepted a football scholarship from Division II Tiffin University.[1] As a true freshman, the former All-Ohio selection from Westlake High School contributed in 11 games as a reserve, rushing for 576 yards and 5 touchdowns.[1] In 2017, he led the Dragons in rushing as an 11-game starter: 1,077 yards and 8 touchdowns.

In 2018, he suffered a career-threatening knee injury, redshirting the 2018 season.[2] In 2019, he started all 11 games, rushing for 1,554 yards and 15 touchdowns which ranked third in Division II.[1][2] He was named the 2019-20 Great Midwest Athletic Conference's Male Athlete of the Year, as well as first-team all-conference.[3][2] His 1,554 rushing yards during his Junior season tied the Great Midwest Athletic Conference rushing record, establishing himself as one of the best players in Tiffin program history.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Tiffin did not play any football games in 2020.[2] He declared for the NFL Draft in 2021, instead of returning for a fifth year. He finished third in school history in rushing yards, third in touchdowns, fifth in rushing attempts, tied for eighth in points, and eighth in all-purpose yards.[4]

College statistics

[edit]
Tiffin Dragons
Season GP Rushing Receiving Scrimmage
Att Yds Avg TD Rec Yds Avg TD Touch Yds Avg TD
2016 11 90 576 6.4 5 10 41 4.1 2 100 617 6.2 7
2017 11 207 1,077 5.2 8 13 136 10.5 0 220 1,213 5.5 8
2019 11 204 1,554 7.6 15 15 107 7.1 1 219 1,661 7.6 16
Career 33 501 3,207 6.4 28 38 284 8.6 3 539 3,491 6.5 31

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 ft 8+14 in
(1.73 m)
211 lb
(96 kg)
29+78 in
(0.76 m)
8+34 in
(0.22 m)
4.56 s 1.58 s 2.64 s 4.14 s 6.98 s 33.0 in
(0.84 m)
9 ft 11 in
(3.02 m)
21 reps
All values from Pro Day[5]

Dallas Cowboys

[edit]

Hardy was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2021 NFL draft.[6][7] In the 2021 preseason, Hardy was featured as a part of the Hard Knocks television series on HBO.[8] He was waived on August 31, 2021 and re-signed to the practice squad.[9][10] Hardy was elevated in Week 14 and Week 15, to replace an injured Tony Pollard. He registered 3 rushing yards and a kick return for 15 yards against the Washington Football Team. He was demoted to the practice squad on December 29.

In Week 18 with the starters resting for the playoffs, Dallas would elevate Hardy for the season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, where had 3 carries for 26 yards and a touchdown, helping the franchise set the NFL record with 22 different players scoring a touchdown in one regular season. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 18, 2022. He was waived on July 14, 2022.[11]

Denver Broncos

[edit]

On August 10, 2022, Hardy signed with the Denver Broncos.[12] He was waived on August 29.[13]

BC Lions

[edit]

On August 8, 2023, Hardy signed with the BC Lions practice roster.[14] He was released by the Lions on November 13, 2023, after playing two games on the active roster.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "JaQuan Hardy". Tiffin University. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "JaQuan Hardy". NFL. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Athletes of the Year". Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  4. ^ Reid, Jordan. "2021 NFL Draft Scouting Report: RB JaQuan Hardy". The Draft Network. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  5. ^ "JaQuan Hardy, Tiffin, RB, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  6. ^ "Tiffin University's JaQuan Hardy signs with Dallas Cowboys". TiffinOhio.net. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  7. ^ Tiffin Athletics. "Tiffin RB JaQuan Hardy Signs With Dallas Cowboys". The Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  8. ^ Piellucci, Mike. "Hard Knocks' Season With the Cowboys Has Concluded. Let's Pay Homage to Its Dumbest Moment". D Magazine. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  9. ^ Phillips, Rob (August 31, 2021). "Cowboys Make 28 Moves; Roster Cut Down To 53". DallasCowboys.com. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  10. ^ Phillips, Rob (September 1, 2021). "QB Ben DiNucci Among Practice Squad Additions". DallasCowboys.com. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  11. ^ Eatman, Nick (July 14, 2022). "Cowboys Sign LB Malik Jefferson; Waive Backup RB". DallasCowboys.com. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  12. ^ Simmons, Myles (August 10, 2022). "Broncos sign Stevie Scott, JaQuan Hardy". NBCSports.com. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  13. ^ DiLalla, Aric (August 29, 2022). "Broncos release P Sam Martin, make series of other roster moves". DenverBroncos.com.
  14. ^ "Transactions". bclions.com. Retrieved May 23, 2024.