2015 NFL Draft: Justin Hardy Scouting Report

Below, read a full scouting report on East Carolina WR Justin Hardy. Where does he project in the 2015 NFL Draft?

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STRENGTHS

Justin Hardy is a tough, gritty receiver prospect. He lacks the size and speed of upper echelon talents so he has to make up for it toughness. He willingly blocks and can be a violent runner after the catch. He doesn’t shy away from contact which allows him to pick up extra yardage.

His toughness also shines through on jump balls. He out-wrestles and out-muscles defensive backs for the ball on a fairly consistent basis. He even did this versus the tougher opponents that East Carolina faced.

Hardy is also a savvy route runner. He uses a bevy of techniques to get open against more athletic cornerbacks. He is extremely aware of what coverage the defense is playing and almost always finds the soft spots in zone coverage.

When Hardy catches the ball, he shows nice acceleration to get to top speed in a hurry. He isn’t necessarily fast per se, but he is a quick athlete. Hardy also shows some elusiveness in his run after the catch ability.

Hardy is the all-time leader in catches at the Division 1-A (FBS) level with 376 catches over his four year career at ECU.

If Hardy lands in the right system, he can be a productive receiver in the NFL.

WEAKNESSES

You won’t find the best athlete at wide receiver here. He accelerates quickly, but his top gear is nothing to be blown away by. Hardy struggled to separate from better cornerbacks on a consistent basis.

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In the NFL, he will struggle to get separation from the defensive backs. Hardy relies too much on his competitiveness and strength to get contested balls and NFL corners will get the best of him.

With the trend of big defensive backs making waves through the NFL, small receivers have to be exceptionally fast or quick, and Hardy is neither of those things.

DRAFT PROJECTION

Late 4th-Early 5th

PLAYER COMPARISON

James Jones, Oakland Raiders

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