Hardy to leave IU for NFL Draft

James Hardy, IU’s all-time and single-season record-holder in both receptions and touchdown catches, declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft on Friday, forgoing his final year of eligibility. \n“After carefully examining my football career here at Indiana University, and consulting with my family, I have concluded that I have reached the pinnacle of my college football career,” Hardy said in an IU Athletics Department press release. \nMichael David Smith, a draft analyst for AOL Sports, said he thinks Hardy is declaring for the draft at the right time. \n“My basic feeling is it is a good move for him,” Smith said. “He’s not a player who’s likely to improve his stock by coming back to college for his senior season.”\nSmith said Hardy’s size – the IU football media guide lists him at 6-foot-7, 220 pounds – is likely his biggest asset in the eyes of pro scouts. \nSmith said he does not think Hardy will go in the first round of the draft. He cited Hardy’s brush with the law and short suspension in 2006 as possible red flags for teams looking at him, especially in the first round. \n“NFL teams are increasingly concerned about guys who might have character issues,” Smith said.\nSmith said Hardy’s most glaring weakness is his questionable ability to outrun NFL defensive backs on deep routes. He said two of Hardy’s biggest strengths are his size and aptitude in short-yardage situations, especially in the red zone. \nSmith also said he doesn’t think coming out of IU, a school without the pedigree of national powers like Ohio State and Southern California, will hurt Hardy. Smith said pro scouts are more interested in players’ ability than where they played in college. \n“I think an NFL team is more than happy to look past which uniform the player was playing in,” Smith said. “In the combine, they’re all wearing the same gray t-shirts.”\nSmith said he doesn’t foresee anyone trying to switch Hardy to tight end, despite his size. \nHardy is the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards, and he was a semi-finalist for the Biletnikoff Award this year, given annually to college football’s top wide receiver. \nThe Fort Wayne native was also a first-team All-Big Ten selection, and garnered All-America honors from several outlets, including www.rivals.com and the Associated Press. \nIU coach Bill Lynch said in the release that he has enjoyed watching Hardy grow during the last three years, and he thanked Hardy for his contributions to the IU football program.\n“James leaves Indiana as the greatest wide receiver in school history,” Lynch said in the release, “and we wish him all of the best in the NFL.”\nHardy tallied 79 receptions for 1,125 yards this season. Among those 79 grabs were 16 touchdowns, good for second-best nationally. He caught a touchdown pass in 11 of IU’s 13 games this year, another school record. \nHardy looks to become the third IU wide receiver to make a pro roster – Courtney Roby of the Tennessee Titans and Antwaan Randle El of the Washington Redskins are the other two. There are currently 11 former IU football players on NFL rosters, including two of Hardy’s former teammates – Isaac Sowells of the Cleveland Browns and Victor Adeyanju of the St. Louis Rams.