Hardy declares himself eligible for draft

James Hardy - IU's all-time and single-season record holder in both receptions and touchdown catches - declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft on Friday, forgoing his final year of eligibility. Hardy has been at IU for four years, but redshirted as a freshman, giving him an extra year of eligibility. \n"After carefully examining my football career here at Indiana University, and consulting with my family, I have concluded that I have reached the pinnacle of my college football career," Hardy said in a IU Department of Athletics press release. \nMichael David Smith, a draft analyst for AOL Sports, said he thinks the move is a good one. \n“He’s not a player who’s likely to improve his stock by coming back to college for his senior season,” Smith said. \nSmith said Hardy’s size – the IU football media guide lists him at 6-foot-7, 220 pounds – is likely his biggest asset in the eyes of pro scouts. \nSmith did say he does not think Hardy will go in the first round of the draft. He cited Hardy’s brush with the law and short suspension in 2006 as possible red flags for teams looking at him, especially in the first round. \n“NFL teams are increasingly concerned about guys who might have character issues,” Smith said.\nSmith added that Hardy’s main question mark right now is his ability to outrun NFL defensive backs on deep routes. He said Hardy’s two of Hardy’s biggest strengths are his size and ability in short-yardage situations, especially in the red zone. \nSmith also said he doesn’t think coming out of IU, a school without the college and NFL pedigree of national powers like Ohio State and Southern Cal, will hurt Hardy. Smith said pro scouts are more interested in players’ ability than they are concerned about where they played in college. \n“I think an NFL team is more than happy to look past which uniform the player was playing in,” Smith said. “In the combine, they’re all wearing the same gray t-shirts.”\nSmith said he doesn’t foresee anyone trying to switch Hardy to tight end, despite his size. \nHardy is also the schools all-time leader in receiving yards, and the Fort Wayne native was a semi-finalist for the Biletnikoff Award this year, given annually to college football's top wide receiver. \nHe was also a first team All-Big Ten selection, and garnered All-America honors from several outlets, including www.rivals.com and the Associated Press. \nStay with www.idsnews.com and Under the Rock for continuing coverage of Hardy's declaration and other IU football news.