Daequan Hardy

American football player (born 2001)

American football player

Daequan Hardy

No. 25 – Buffalo Bills

Position:

Cornerback

Personal information

Born:

(2001-06-13) June 13, 2001 (age 22)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Height:

5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)

Weight:

178 lb (81 kg)

Career information

High school:

Penn Hills (Penn Hills, Pennsylvania)

College:

Penn State (2020–2023)

NFL draft:

2024 / Round: 6 / Pick: 219

Career history

Buffalo Bills (2024–present)

Roster status:

Unsigned draft pick

Career highlights and awards

Second-team All-Big Ten (2023)

Career NFL statistics

Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Daequan Keith Hardy (born June 13, 2001)^[1] is an American football cornerback for the Buffalo Bills in the National Football League (NFL). He previously played for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Early life and high school

Hardy attended high school at Penn Hills. In Hardy's senior season, he amassed a total of 22 touchdowns.^[2] Hardy helped led his team to a stille title, as in the game he scored four touchdowns, two receiving, an 84-yard kickoff return, and a 100-yard pick six, as he also intercepted three passes in the game.^[3] Coming out of high school, Hardy was rated as a three-star recruit, where he decided to commit to play college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions.^[4]^[5]

College career

In Hardy's first career season in 2020, he tallied ten tackles, three pass deflections, and a sack.^[6] In 2021, Hardy had 15 tackles, with three going for a loss, a sack, six pass deflections, two interceptions, and a touchdown.^[7] During the 2022 season, Hardy notched 13 tackles with half a tackle being for a loss, half a sack, four pass deflections, an interceptions, and a forced fumble.^[8] In week seven of the 2023 season, Hardy returned two punts for touchdowns in a win over UMass.^[9] His two touchdowns, was a single game school record for punt return touchdowns.^[10] Hardy finished the 2023 season totaling 22 tackles with three going for a loss, a sack, seven pass deflections, and two interceptions, while also returning 17 punts for 248 yards and two touchdowns.^[11] For his performance on the 2023 season, Hardy was named third team all Big-Ten.^[12] After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Hardy declared for the 2024 NFL draft.^[13]^[14]

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 9+3⁄8 in (1.76 m)	179 lb (81 kg)	30 in (0.76 m)	8+1⁄8 in (0.21 m)	4.38 s	1.50 s	2.56 s	4.17 s	7.17 s	42.5 in (1.08 m)	10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)	15 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day^[15]^[16]^[17]

Hardy was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the sixth round with the 219th pick overall in the 2024 NFL draft.

References

^ "Daequan Hardy". Penn State Nittany Lions. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
^ Juliano, Joe (6 February 2019). "National signing day: Penn State receives two more commitments for incoming class of 2019". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ White, Mike (28 December 2018). "Penn Hills' Daequan Hardy is Pennsylvania's 5A Player of Year". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ White, Mike (5 February 2019). "Penn Hills High School's Daequan Hardy commits to Penn State". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ McGonigal, John (6 February 2019). "Penn State adds another Florida wideout, bringing 2019 recruiting class up to 23 members". York Dispatch. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ Charnoff, Amber (5 January 2024). "Daequan Hardy declared for the NFL Draft". ABC27. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ "Daequan Hardy 2021 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ "Daequan Hardy 2022 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ Engle, Seth (28 December 2023). "Penn Hills grad Daequan Hardy was an underdog before Penn State — and is again before the NFL draft". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ Sauber, Jon. "Penn State cornerback Daequan Hardy breaks school punt return record against UMass". Centre Daily Times. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ "Daequan Hardy 2023 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ Wogenrich, Mark (21 December 2023). "Penn State's Daequan Hardy Declares for NFL Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ Sauber, Jon. "Penn State football: Daequan Hardy declares for draft". Centre Daily Times. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ Pickel, Greg (21 December 2023). "Penn State cornerback Daequan Hardy announces Peach Bowl, NFL Draft plans". On3.com. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
^ "Daequan Hardy Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Daequan Hardy College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
^ "2024 NFL Pro Day Central - Penn State Athletics". GoPSUSports.com. March 15, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.