Justin Hardy

Not to be confused with Justin Hardee.

Justin Hardy

Hardy with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2024
No. 2 – Ottawa Redblacks
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1991-12-18) December 18, 1991 (age 33) 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
Atlanta Falcons (2015–2019) Chicago Bears (2021)* Ottawa Redblacks (2022–present)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:	Active
CFL status:	American
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star (2024) 2× CFL East All-Star (2023, 2024) Burlsworth Trophy (2014) First-team All-AAC (2014) 2× First-team All-C-USA (2012, 2013)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 95 Receiving yards: 946 Receiving touchdowns: 9 Stats at Pro Football Reference
Career CFL statistics
Targets: 189 Receptions: 129 Receiving yards: 1425 Receiving touchdowns: 3 Stats at CFL.ca

Justin Hardy (born December 18, 1991) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football at East Carolina. Hardy was the NCAA all-time reception leader until his former teammate Zay Jones overtook his record during the 2016 season.

Early life

Hardy attended West Craven High School in Vanceboro, North Carolina. As a senior on the football team, he played quarterback after previously being a wide receiver.[1] That season, he passed for 2,500 yards and had 35 passing touchdowns. Hardy also picked two additional letters as a shooting and point guard in basketball and another in track as a high jumper (best of 6-4 or 1.93m).[2]

College career

Hardy was redshirted as a freshman at East Carolina University in 2010, a season in which he walked on.[3] After earning a scholarship in spring 2011,[3] he started eight of 10 games in his redshirt freshman season in 2011, recording a school freshman record 64 receptions for 658 yards and six touchdowns.[4] As a sophomore in 2012 Hardy was an All-Conference USA first-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, passing Dwayne Harris' 268.[7] On November 22, 2014, against Tulane, Hardy became the NCAA's all-time leading receptions leader, passing Ryan Broyles' 349.[8][9] On December 8, 2014, Hardy was named the winner of that season's Burlsworth 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

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

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 10+1⁄4 in (1.78 m)	192 lb (87 kg)	32+1⁄8 in (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 from NFL Combine[13][14]

Hardy with the Atlanta Falcons in 2015

Atlanta Falcons

Hardy was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round (107th overall) in the 2015 NFL draft.[15] In his rookie season, Hardy played in nine games, catching 21 passes for 194 yards.[16] In Week 2 of the 2016 season, against the Oakland Raiders, Hardy scored his first career touchdown when he caught a deflected pass from Matt Ryan in the end zone.[17] In the 2016 season, he had 21 receptions for 203 yards and four touchdowns.[18] Hardy and the Falcons reached Super Bowl LI, where they faced the New 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

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

Ottawa Redblacks

On March 18, 2022, Hardy signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian 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 a CFL East Division All-Star. In February 2024, his contract with the Redblacks was extended.[25]

References

1. "DeCock: Justin Hardy embodies The ECU Way". Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
2. "NCHSAA 3A East Regional - Results (Raw)".
3. "Justin Hardy Named 2014 Burlsworth Trophy Winner" (Press release). ECU Athletics. December 8, 2014. Archived from the original on December 9, 2014. Retrieved December 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. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
7. "East Carolina's Justin Hardy pulls off hat trick". Raleigh News & Observer. August 31, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
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". Sports Reference. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
11. "Justin Hardy Career Game Log". Sports Reference. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
12. "Justin Hardy". www.sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
13. "Justin Hardy Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
14. "2015 NFL Draft Scout Justin Hardy College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
15. McClure, Vaughn (May 2, 2015). "Total breakdown: Falcons draft WR Justin Hardy in fourth round". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 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. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
19. "Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
20. "Justin Hardy 2017 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 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. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
24. "Ex-Falcons WR Hardy among three Americans signed by Redblacks - TSN.ca". TSN. The Canadian Press. March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
25. "REDBLACKS extend East Division All-Star Justin Hardy - CFL.ca". cfl.ca. February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2024.

External links

• East Carolina Pirates bio Archived October 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
• Justin Hardy on Twitter