James Hardy the WR Pro day News

[ms9221]

News** ** *03/05/08* - James Hardy thought Wednesday felt like just another Indiana practice. Except, of course, there were a lot more spectators and the stakes were far higher. Hardy, 11 of his Hoosiers teammates and Indiana State's Tony West spent about 90 minutes working out on Indiana's annual pro day. The crowd included Indiana players, friends and NFL scouts and coaches from at least 18 teams including Bengals coach Marvin Lewis. Nobody had more to gain, or lose, than Hardy, who is trying to prove he's worthy of a first-round pick in April's draft, and the 6-foot-7 receiver seemed to perform well. He dropped only two passes, improved his vertical leap by nearly six inches and finally got some hands-on training with NFL route-running. "Yeah, they were coaching me a little more than they were at the combine, and at the same time I was asking questions," Hardy said. "I'm trying to run different routes than I did at Indiana." For Hardy, it was another chance to showcase his talents after the NFL combine. It's also a chance to prove how much he can still improve since he didn't start playing high school football until his junior season and considered football a second sport when he was recruited to Indiana as a basketball player. Instead, he gave up basketball, excelled as a record-setting receiver and drew enough attention from the NFL to warrant leaving school a year early. Some scouting services now have Hardy projected as a late first-round draft pick, and it appeared he did nothing to diminish that prospect Wednesday

 

[SDogo]

I would love to have Hardy at #28 or #22 assuming there was a run on CB's and the top RB's were off the board.

 

[burmafrd]

6' 5 3/8" 217. So he is NOT 6-7. or even 6-6. Which to me is good because the number of quality NFL WRs of that height basically is ONE in HISTORY= Harold Carmichal. To me it comes down to two things- is he physical and know how to use his size; and his hands= how good are they.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Ok, the Bengals were there. Questions is, were the Cowboys?

 

[JerryFan]

I would love to have Hardy at #28 or #22 assuming there was a run on CB's and the top RB's were off the board.

NO! Please NO! I'll take Devin Thomas over Hardy, but I'd be willing to put money we don't draft a WR in round 1. We're taking CB for sure with 22 and 28 will either be CB again or RB.

 

[lkelly]

Would be nice to see a list of teams that sent scouts to his workout.

 

[zekecee]

40 time?

 

[theogt]

40 time?

At the Combine he ran a 4.49.

 

[DallasKnight]

At the Combine he ran a 4.49.

Not a GREAT time, but it doesn't suck for someone that size either. Possession reciever? With that height, and vertical... Eat your heart out guys. Jump ball anyone? rofl

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I wouldn't mind having Hardy. There are a few recievers I like a little bit better but I wouldn't be upset about having him at all.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Not a GREAT time, but it doesn't suck for someone that size either. Possession reciever? With that height, and vertical... Eat your heart out guys. Jump ball anyone? rofl

I *believe* Plaxico Burress ran a 4.6. Of course, he has explosive acceleration just doesn't have top speed.

 

[marchetta]

What was his vertical jump?

 

[theogt]

Not a GREAT time, but it doesn't suck for someone that size either. Possession reciever? With that height, and vertical... Eat your heart out guys. Jump ball anyone? rofl

He's apparently extremely 'quick' too. He had a 6.85 3-cone (8th among WRs) and 4.20 shuttle (T-7th among WRs).

And he was pretty productive in college, averaging 14 YPC over 2740 yards and 36 TDs in 3 seasons.

There's really not much to not like about him.

What was his vertical jump?

If he improved it by 6 inches, then it'd be in the 37 inch range, which is fantastic.

 

[Q_the_man]

Don't know much about him, but think he could be a solid #2, since he played BB and was recruited to play BB, I think he could use that skill their in getting better position for catches....worth a look

 

[TheCount]

NO! Please NO! I'll take Devin Thomas over Hardy, but I'd be willing to put money we don't draft a WR in round 1. We're taking CB for sure with 22 and 28 will either be CB again or RB.

What exactly does Devin Thomas have over Hardy that you would beg to take him over Hardy in the 1st?

I'm not sure what the love affair is with the guy all of a sudden. He had decent numbers at the combine (but so did Hardy), but he only had one good year in college.

I'd love Hardy in the first, and I've been pimping him for a while, I think he's one of the few guys in this draft that has true #1 WR potential.

If he improved it by 6 inches, then it'd be in the 37 inch range, which is fantastic.

Where did you see his first vert number? He didn't do it at the combine.

 

[theogt]

Where did you see his first vert number? He didn't do it at the combine.

Yeah, he had a 31.5 vert at the Combine.

 

[zrinkill]

I would love to have James Hardy.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

37" or so is pretty fantastic, especially given how tall he is too boot. That's a really good advantage over the 6' corners in the league.

 

[StarHead69]

Hardy has the potential to be an excellent NFL WR. I think he will go "suprisingly" high (10-15) so I am leaving him off my wish-list

I would snatch him up at #22 unless a top CB was still sitting there.

 

[TheCount]

Yeah, he had a 31.5 vert at the Combine.

Wow, he went from a 31.5 to 37? He's got some "ups" as we would say.