Penny Hart
{{Short description|American football player (born 1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Penny Hart
| image = Penny Hart.png
| alt =
| caption = Hart in 2019
| number =
| current_team =
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|7|5}}
| birth_place = Roswell, Georgia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 8
| weight_lb = 180
| high_school = King's Ridge Christian
(Alpharetta, Georgia)
| college = Georgia State (2015–2018)
| undraftedyear = 2019
| pastteams = * Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2019}})*
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2019|2022}})
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2023}})
| status =
| highlights = * Sun Belt Freshman of the Year (2015)
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 11
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 82
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = HartPe01
}}
Marjahn Penny Mathias Hart (born July 5, 1996) is an American professional football wide receiver. He played college football for the Georgia State Panthers and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts after the 2019 NFL draft.
Early life
Hart grew up in Roswell, Georgia and attended King's Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta, Georgia, where he played football, basketball, ran track, and baseball. In baseball, Hart was coached by former Major Leaguer Dallas McPherson and as a senior scored the winning run for King's Ridge in the 2015 Georgia High School Association Class A state championship game.{{cite web|url=https://www.northfulton.com/archives/king-s-ridge-alum-penny-hart-discovers-dreams-do-come/article_38b30875-feda-5f67-8025-455839fea9e5.html|title=King's Ridge alum Penny Hart discovers dreams do come true|first=Isabelle|last=Nguyen|website=NorthFulton.com|date=October 19, 2015|access-date=July 13, 2019}} In football, Hart was named first-team All-Region as a junior at running back and again as a senior as an athlete after playing running back and then moving to quarterback for the final three games of the season. In his final high school game, Hart rushed for 390 yards and eight touchdowns while also passing for 162 yards and another score.{{cite web|url=https://www.northfulton.com/sports/king-s-ridge-s-penny-hart-ends-season-with-bang/article_e95ccc43-f424-5de2-9581-09bee519e44d.html|title=King's Ridge's Penny Hart ends season with bang|first=Hatcher|last=Hurd|website=NorthFulton.com|date=November 24, 2014|access-date=August 3, 2019}}
College career
Hart spent four seasons as a member of the Georgia State Panthers. In his first collegiate season, Hart had 71 receptions for 1,099 yards
and eight touchdowns and was named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and first-team All-Sun Belt, and was also named Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America.{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college/georgia-state-penny-hart-moving-from-last-year/g8IQ3k7hrU4iEdpQ7JDQ9I/|title=Georgia State's Penny Hart moving on from last year|first=Doug|last=Roberton|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=April 6, 2016|access-date=June 15, 2019}} Hart entered his sophomore season on the Fred Biletnikoff Award watchlist, but eventually had to redshirt after suffering a hamstring injury in training camp and then breaking his foot in the fourth game of the season against Appalachian State.{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/college-football/georgia-state-penny-hart-out-for-remainder-season-with-broken-foot/7JzyADkCdifC2NZokyWb0I/|title=Georgia State's Penny Hart out for remainder of season with broken foot|first=Khadrice|last=Rollins|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=October 3, 2016|access-date=June 15, 2019}} As a redshirt sophomore, he caught a school record 74 passes for 1,121 yards and eight touchdowns and was again named first-team All-Sun Belt.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/sports/college/ulm/2018/07/20/meet-sun-belts-fab-5-nfl-prospects/784767002/|title=Meet the Sun Belt's Fab-5 NFL prospects|first=Adam|last=Hunsucker|work=The News-Star|date=July 20, 2018|access-date=June 15, 2019}} The following season, Hart recorded 49 catches for 669 yards and two touchdowns, as well as 15 kickoffs returned for 299 yards and nine punts returned for 158 yards and a touchdown, and was named third-team All-Sun Belt.{{cite web|url=http://georgiastatesignal.com/hart-middleton-signed-to-nfl-team-after-going-undrafted/|title=Hart, Middleton signed to NFL team after going undrafted|first=Anfernee|last=Patterson|work=The Signal|date=May 4, 2019|access-date=June 15, 2019}} Hart declared himself eligible for the 2019 NFL draft, forgoing his final season of NCAA eligibility.{{cite web|url=https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2019/1/19/18188555/nfl-announces-list-of-underclassmen-who-declared-for-2019-nfl-draft-notes|title=NFL announces list of underclassmen who declared for 2019 NFL Draft|first=Dave|last=Lavoie|website=BuffaloRumblings.com|publisher=SB Nation|date=January 19, 2019|access-date=June 16, 2019}} Hart finished his collegiate career with 203 receptions for 2,960 yards, both second in Georgia State history, and a school-record 19 receiving touchdowns.{{cite web|url=https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2019/04/11/2019-nfl-draft-indianapolis-colts-penny-hart-visit-meeting-top-30/|title=Colts host WR Penny Hart on top 30 visit|first=Kevin|last=Hickey|website=Colts Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=April 11, 2019|access-date=June 16, 2019}} Following his final season Hart received an invitation to participate in the 2019 Senior Bowl, where he impressed NFL scouts in practice and caught one pass for seven yards in the actual game.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2019-senior-bowl-penny-hart-overshadows-andy-isabella-on-thursday-l-j-collier-dalton-risner-shine/|title=2019 Senior Bowl: Penny Hart overshadows Andy Isabella on Thursday; L.J. Collier, Dalton Risner shine|first=Chris|last=Trapasso|website=CBSSports.com|date=January 24, 2019|access-date=June 17, 2019}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 8
| weight = 180
| dash = 4.63
| ten split = 1.58
| twenty split = 2.68
| shuttle = 4.75
| cone drill = 7.64
| vertical = 33.5
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 3
| bench = 18
| arm span = 31
| hand span = 9 1/8
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1016247&DraftYear=2019 |title=Penny Hart, Georgia State, WR, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=November 14, 2021}}
}}
=Indianapolis Colts=
Hart signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2019/05/colts-sign-9-udfas|title=Colts Sign 9 UDFAs|first=Andrew|last=Ortenberg|date=May 3, 2019|access-date=June 15, 2019}} He was waived/injured on August 31, 2019,{{cite web|title=Colts Announce Final 2019 Roster Cuts|url=https://www.colts.com/news/initial-2019-roster-cuts|author=Walker, Andrew|website=Colts.com|date=August 31, 2019}} and reverted to the team's injured reserve list the next day. He was waived from injured reserve with an injury settlement on September 7.{{cite web|url=https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2019/09/07/indianapolis-colts-reach-injury-settlements-penny-hart-shakial-taylor/|title=Colts reach injury settlements with WR Penny Hart, CB Shakial Taylor|first=Kevin|last=Hickey|work=Colts Wire|date=September 7, 2019}}
=Seattle Seahawks=
Hart was signed to the practice squad of the Seattle Seahawks on October 22, 2019 following a workout with the team.{{cite web|url=https://www.profootballrumors.com/2019/10/nfl-practice-squad-updates-102219|title=NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/22/19|first=Cam|last=Robinson|date=October 22, 2019|access-date=October 22, 2019}} He signed a reserve/future contract with the Seahawks on January 14, 2020.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Sign Six Players To Reserve/Future Contracts|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-six-players-to-reserve-future-contracts|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=January 14, 2020}}
On September 5, 2020, Hart was waived by the Seahawks and signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Make Roster Moves To Establish Initial 53-Man Roster|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-make-roster-moves-to-establish-initial-53-man-roster|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=September 5, 2020}}{{cite web|title=Seahawks Sign 14 Players to Practice Squad, Including LB Shaquem Griffin|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-14-players-to-practice-squad-including-lb-shaquem-griffin|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=September 6, 2020}} He was promoted to the active roster on September 8.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Promote WR Penny Hart To 53-Man Roster|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-promote-wr-penny-hart-to-53-man-roster|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=September 8, 2020}} Hart made his NFL debut on September 13, 2020 in the season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, playing one snap on offense and two on special teams.{{cite web|url=https://www.fieldgulls.com/2020/9/14/21436001/rookie-report-new-seattle-seahawks-largely-quiet-debut-week-1-atlanta-falcons-lewis-brooks-swain|title=Rookie Report: New Seahawks largely quiet in debut|first=John P.|last=Gilbert|website=FieldGulls.com|publisher=SB Nation|date=September 14, 2020|access-date=September 15, 2020}} He was waived on December 21, 2020,{{cite web|title=Josh Gordon Added To Seahawks Roster, Penny Hart Waived|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/josh-gordon-added-to-seahawks-roster-penny-hart-waived/|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=December 21, 2020|access-date=December 21, 2020}} and re-signed to the practice squad two days later.{{cite news |author=Boyle, John |title=Seahawks CB Tre Flowers & DT Bryan Mone Return To Practice; Two Added To Practice Squad |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-cb-tre-flowers-dt-bryan-mone-return-to-practice-two-added-to-practice-s |website=Seahawks.com |date=December 23, 2020 |access-date=February 7, 2021}} He was elevated to the active roster on December 26 and January 2, 2021, for the team's weeks 16 and 17 games against the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.{{cite news |author=Boyle, John |title=Seahawks Activate TE Greg Olsen & DT Bryan Mone Off Injured Reserve |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-activate-te-greg-olsen-dt-bryan-mone-off-injured-reserve |website=Seahawks.com |date=December 26, 2020 |access-date=February 8, 2021}}{{cite news |author=Boyle, John |title=Seahawks Activate CB Tre Flowers From IR; Two Placed On Reserve/COVID-19 List |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-activate-cb-tre-flowers-from-ir-two-placed-on-reserve-covid-19-list |website=Seahawks.com |date=January 2, 2021 |access-date=February 15, 2021}} On January 11, 2021, Hart signed a reserve/futures contract with the Seahawks.{{cite news |author=Boyle, John |title=Seahawks Sign 12 to Reserve/Future Contracts |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-12-to-reserve-future-contracts |website=Seahawks.com |date=January 11, 2021 |access-date=February 17, 2021}}
On August 31, 2021, Hart was waived by the Seahawks and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Reduce Roster To 52 Players|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-reduce-roster-to-52-players|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=August 31, 2021}}{{cite web|title=Seahawks Sign 14 To Practice Squad|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-14-to-practice-squad|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=September 1, 2021}} He was promoted to the active roster on September 7, 2021.{{cite web|title=Seahawks Place Three On Injured Reserve; Add Blessuan Austin, Penny Hart & John Reid To 53-Man Roster|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-place-three-on-injured-reserve-add-blessuan-austin-penny-hart-john-reid|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=September 7, 2021}}
The Seahawks re-signed Hart on April 19, 2022.{{cite web|last=Boyle|first=John|date=April 19, 2022|title=Seahawks Re-Sign QB Geno Smith, Eight Restricted & Exclusive Rights Free Agents
|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-re-sign-qb-geno-smith-eight-restricted-exclusive-rights-free-agents|accessdate=April 22, 2022|website=Seahawks.com|language=en-US}}
=Atlanta Falcons=
On May 3, 2023, Hart signed with the Atlanta Falcons.{{cite web|title=Falcons add former Georgia State receiver to mix at position of need|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/penny-hart-wide-receiver-signed-one-year-deal-free-agency-|author=Bair, Scott|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=May 3, 2023}} He was placed on injured reserve on August 29, 2023.{{cite web|title=Falcons announce initial 53-man roster for 2023|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/initial-53-man-roster-transactions-announced-for-2023|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=August 29, 2023}} He was released on October 9.{{Cite web |last=Grindley |first=Wyatt |date=2023-10-09 |title=Falcons Releasing WR Penny Hart From IR |url=https://nfltraderumors.co/falcons-releasing-wr-penny-hart-from-ir/ |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=NFLTradeRumors.co |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.georgiastatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12700&ATCLID=210140825 Georgia State Panthers bio]
- {{commons category-inline}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hart, Penny}}
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Atlanta Falcons players
Category:Georgia State Panthers football players
Category:Indianapolis Colts players