James Hardy (wide receiver)
{{Short description|American football player (1985–2017)}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = James Hardy
| image = James Hardy 2011 stadium practice.jpg
| caption = Hardy with the Ravens in 2011
| number = 81, 84, 13
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1985|12|24}}
| birth_place = Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
| death_date = c. {{Death date and age|2017|6|7|1985|12|24|mf=yes}}
| death_place = Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lbs = 220
| high_school = Fort Wayne (IN) Elmhurst
| college = Indiana
| draftyear = 2008
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 41
| pastteams =
- Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2008}}–{{NFL Year|2010}})
- Baltimore Ravens ({{NFL Year|2011}})*
- Arizona Rattlers ({{AFL Year|2012}})*
- Tampa Bay Storm ({{AFL Year|2013}})*
| highlights =
- Second-team All-American (2007)
- Freshman All-American (2005)
- First-team All-Big Ten (2007)
- 2× Second-team All-Big Ten (2005, 2006)
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 10
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 96
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 2
| pfr = H/HardJa00
}}
James W. Hardy III (December 24, 1985 – c. June 7, 2017) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft and also played for the Baltimore Ravens. He played college football for the Indiana Hoosiers.
Early life
James Hardy was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
He attended Elmhurst High School where he was a star athlete in football and basketball. He received an athletic scholarship for football at Indiana University.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
At Elmhurst High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Hardy played football and basketball. As a senior, he posted 34 catches for 710 yards and 10 touchdowns and was a Class 4A all-state selection by the Indiana Football Coaches Association.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
As a basketball player, he was runner-up in the Indiana "Mr. Basketball" award voting and an Indiana All-Star. He ranks high on the list for the city scoring record for Fort Wayne, with over 2,000 points during his four years at Elmhurst. Hardy led Elmhurst to a state championship appearance his junior year. However, Elmhurst was defeated by Bishop Chatard High School from Indianapolis.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}} His senior year, he led Elmhurst to a sectional championship, but later was defeated by Bellmont High School in the regional finals.
Hardy was also a two-time winner of the Tiffany Gooden Award, awarded annually to the most outstanding male or female basketball player in the SAC.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
College career
Hardy redshirted as a true freshman in 2004. As a redshirt freshman in 2005, he posted 61 catches for 893 yards and 10 touchdowns. His play earned him a Freshman All-American selection.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
As a sophomore, he caught 51 passes for 722 yards and 10 touchdowns and was named Second-team All-Big Ten for a second straight year. His 20 career receiving touchdowns in his first two years had tied him with Ernie Jones (1984–1987) for second on the university's all-time list, trailing only Jade Butcher (1967–1969) and his 30 career TD grabs.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
As a junior, Hardy caught 74 passes for 1,075 yards—ranking third in the Big Ten in both categories—and became the Hoosiers' all-time receiving leader in touchdowns (36), yards (2,690) and receptions (186). He was selected first-team All-Big Ten selection, a Fred Biletnikoff Award semifinalist and the team's most valuable player.{{cite web |url=http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121107aab.html |title=Three Hoosiers Collect All-America Honors |website=CSTV.com |date= |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216054036/http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/121107aab.html |archive-date=December 16, 2007 |url-status=dead }}
During his time at Indiana, Hardy also played on the basketball team for one season.{{cite web |title=2004-05 Men's Basketball Roster |url=https://iuhoosiers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/2004-05 |website=Indiana University Athletics |publisher=Indiana University |access-date=23 October 2024 |language=en}}
In January 2008, Hardy declared himself eligible for the 2008 NFL draft, saying "I have reached the pinnacle of my college football career."{{cite news |url=http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080105/SPORTS0601/801050469/-1/LOCAL17 |work=Indianapolis Star |date=January 5, 2008 |title=Hardy to enter NFL draft |first=Terry |last=Hutchen |access-date=June 9, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080211134727/http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080105%2FSPORTS0601%2F801050469%2F-1%2FLOCAL17 |archive-date=February 11, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}
Professional career
=Pre-draft=
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Hardy was a top 10 performer in the bench press, broad jump, 3-cone drill, and 20-yard shuttle. In the bench press, Hardy finished ninth among wide receivers with 18 reps at {{convert|225|lb|abbr=on}}. He finished 8th in the broad jump with a distance of {{convert|10|ft|5|in|abbr=in}}. He finished 7th in the 3-cone drill with a time of 6.84 seconds. He also finished tied for seventh in the 20-yard shuttle with a time of 4.20 seconds. Official 40-yard dash time was 4.49.{{cite web |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d807bdfdb/printable/drafts-top-wide-receivers |title=Draft's top wide receivers |first=Pat |last=Kirwan |website=NFL.com |date=April 14, 2008 |access-date= June 9, 2017}}
=Buffalo Bills=
Hardy was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the second round (41st overall) of the 2008 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2008 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2008/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He signed a multi-year contract with the team on July 24. On September 14, 2008, in his second game, Hardy caught his first touchdown late in a win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He finished the campaign with nine catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HardJa00.htm|title=Stats|last=Hardy|date=|website=Pro Football Reference|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}
Hardy played in two games in 2009, catching one pass for nine yards. On September 4, 2010, he was released by the Bills.
=Baltimore Ravens=
On January 17, 2011, Hardy was signed to a reserve/future contract by the Baltimore Ravens.{{cite web |url=http://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2011/1/12/1930961/ravens-sign-wr-to-reserve-future-contract |website=BaltimoreBeatdown.com |title=Ravens Sign WR to Reserve/Future Contract |first=Bruce |last=Raffel |date=January 12, 2011 |access-date=June 9, 2017}} He practiced little with the Ravens during the 2011 training camp due to chronic hamstring problems, the same injury that nagged him while with the Bills. He was released by the Ravens on September 5, 2011.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}
Post-football career
After the NFL, Hardy turned his attention to Hollywood, where he pursued a career in modeling and acting.{{cite web |url=http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130416/SPORTS/130419701/1030/IU |website=News-Sentinel.com |access-date=April 23, 2013 |title=Ex-IU standout James Hardy – from NFL to model |date=April 16, 2013 |archive-date=May 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522065027/http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130416/SPORTS/130419701/1030/IU |url-status=dead }}
Personal problems and death
On May 4, 2014, Hardy was arrested on felony charges following a dispute at his home in Los Angeles, in which a visibly drugged Hardy attacked police officers responding to a disturbing the peace call.{{cite news |url=http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/05/05/former-nfl-player-james-hardy-arrested/ |title=Former NFL Player James Hardy Arrested |website=losangeles.cbslocal.com |publisher=KCBS-TV |access-date=May 5, 2014| date= May 5, 2014}} In November 2014, it was reported a judge deemed Hardy unfit for trial and remanded him to a mental facility.{{cite news |url=http://m.tmz.com/#Article/2014/11/08/ex-nfl-player-james-hardy-committed-to-mental-facility-after-cop-attack-arrest |title=Ex-NFL Player James Hardy Committed to Mental Facility... After Cop Attack Arrest |website=TMZ.com |date=November 8, 2014 |access-date=June 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613025249/http://m.tmz.com/#Article/2014/11/08/ex-nfl-player-james-hardy-committed-to-mental-facility-after-cop-attack-arrest |archive-date=June 13, 2016 |url-status=dead }}
On June 7, 2017, Hardy's body was found lodged in a dam in the Maumee River in Fort Wayne, Indiana.{{Cite web|url=http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20170608/body-found-among-tree-debris-in-maumee|title=Body found among tree debris in Maumee|work=The Journal Gazette|access-date=June 8, 2017|archive-date=June 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608073634/http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/police-fire/20170608/body-found-among-tree-debris-in-maumee|url-status=dead}} He was 31 years old.{{Cite news |url=http://www.wpta21.com/story/35621291/coroner-identifies-man-found-in-maumee-river-as-former-nfl-player |title=Coroner identifies man found in Maumee River as former NFL player |last=Burbrink |first=Jacob |access-date=June 8, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=July 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711220550/http://www.wpta21.com/story/35621291/coroner-identifies-man-found-in-maumee-river-as-former-nfl-player |url-status=dead }} On July 18, his death was ruled a suicide, by way of asphyxia from drowning.{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/20105133/death-ex-buffalo-bills-indiana-hoosiers-wide-receiver-james-hardy-ruled-suicide |title=Coroner's office rules James Hardy's death a suicide |work=ESPN.com |date=July 19, 2017 |access-date=July 19, 2017}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- {{NFL.com player}}
- [http://www.buffalobills.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=122796 Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731112629/http://www.buffalobills.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=122796 |date=July 31, 2008 }} at the Buffalo Bills website
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061023215510/http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hardy_james00.html Profile] at CSTV.com
{{Bills2008DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hardy, James}}
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Arizona Rattlers players
Category:Basketball players from Fort Wayne, Indiana
Category:Baltimore Ravens players
Category:Buffalo Bills players
Category:Indiana Hoosiers football players
Category:Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball players
Category:Players of American football from Fort Wayne, Indiana
Category:Tampa Bay Storm players
Category:American men's basketball players