Penn State's Daequan Hardy Seeks to Raise NFL Draft Stock at the Peach Bowl

ATLANTA | Five years ago, Daequan Hardy made a silent commitment to play for Buffalo while awaiting the offer he hoped would come. Then two days before Signing Day, Penn State assistant coach Terry Smith delivered it. As the next phase of his career approaches, Hardy sees similarities.

The Penn State defensive back closes his college football career Saturday at the Peach Bowl, which he hopes NFL scouts will be watching. Hardy could have returned to Penn State football for a sixth season but declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. However, Hardy will play as many snaps as the coaches will give him at cornerback, nickel back and on punt returns in the bowl game  against Ole Miss at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

"That's one of the main reasons I’m still playing, because I feel like I’m an under-the-radar guy and I feel like this is another chance to prove who I am and turn some heads," Hardy said.

Hardy represents one of Penn State's recent success stories in recruiting and player development. He wasn't a big prospect (in size or recruiting profile) at Penn Hills High near Pittsburgh. Hardy's still 5-9, 180 pounds, not much bigger than he was in high school, when he was a 2-star Rivals recruit. But he could be electrifying. In the 2018 PIAA Class 5A title game, Hardy scored four touchdowns in four different ways to lift Penn Hills to their first state title in 23 years.

Though that size gave most Power 5 teams pause, it didn't deter Penn State. Hardy took a late official visit to State College, leaving without an offer but with a promise of a follow-up phone call from assistant coach Terry Smith. That arrived 48 hours before Signing Day. Hardy was the last offer in the class, and he chose Penn State over Buffalo.

Hardy since has turned himself into one of Penn State's most value-added players. He has been the starting nickel cornerback for three seasons. Saturday will mark his 50th game for the Lions. And this season, after four years of requests, Hardy finally got the chance to return punts again. He took two back for touchdowns against Massachusetts, tying the school's single-season record in one game, and was named All-Big Ten at the position.

"I do feel like that's helped my stock," Hardy said. "... I've been in coach [James] Franklin’s ear for four years trying to get a chance, and I’m happy he finally let me go out there and showcase it."

Hardy could get extra reps at cornerback, since starter Johnny Dixon isn't expected to play in the Peach Bowl and Kalen King might play limited reps. He's looking forward to that as well, hoping to draw more attention from NFL scouts. The draft process has been a reminder of high school recruiting in trying to generate notice. Hardy was patient then and remains that way now, awaiting another coach Smith to find him.

"In my recruiting process, I had a couple of Power 5 offers, but other than that, I really didn’t get much notice from the big-time schools," he said. "So it’s kind of the same thing going into the draft. A couple scouts kind of know who I am and I just hopped on their radar."

Hardy said he has been given NFL Draft grades of Day 2 or Day 3 but believes he's an all-around player who can demonstrate value for any NFL roster. Just as he did at Penn State.

"He's a special player, and awesome kid and just a really smart football player," Penn State interim co-defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter said. "Sometimes you can go unnoticed if you tuck in there [nickel] and the ball might not come to you. But he’s been a pivotal piece for us all year. Just all the jobs he can do, and obviously when you can put him on the inside slot receiver and he can handle that job, it’s been tremendous for us."