Ladies and gentlemen, Dorian Hardy!
Stats
Hometown/High School: Paramus, NJ (Paramus Catholic)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 241 pounds
Recruited By: Sean Spencer
Starz ‘n Sheetz
Rankings: Four-star on 247, Rivals, Scout, and ESPN
Notable Offers: Alabama, Clemson, Michigan, Ohio State, Florida, LSU, Virginia Tech
Highlights
The Tale
Dorian Hardy’s breakout as a national recruit came last May when he picked up offers from Florida, Alabama, LSU, Clemson, Penn State, and Ohio State in a matter of two weeks. He seemed to be trending towards the Crimson Tide last summer, but over time it became clear that Hardy would be playing his college football in the Big Ten, with Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, and Rutgers looking like the likely destinations.
Although Hardy wasn’t able to visit Penn State in the fall or the winter, the Nittany Lions made strides with the New Jersey defensive lineman, picking up a number of 247 Crystal Ball predictions in February. Hardy eventually made his way to Happy Valley, as he was in attendance for the Blue-White game, where Penn State cemented their spot at the top of his list. He made his way back to State College this weekend, when he finally made the call for the Nittany Lions.
❤❤❤ pic.twitter.com/axuPRoGLSl
— Sharon Hardy (@Hardy39Hardy) June 11, 2017
Hardy is ranked as the 159th overall player in the country and the 6th ranked prospect in New Jersey, according to 247 Composite rankings.
Outlook
Despite only being 241 pounds right now, there’s a very good chance that Hardy grows into a defensive tackle. He has the frame to hold 290-300 pounds, and with Penn State’s need for defensive tackles, it makes too much sense for Hardy not to end up inside. Obviously, he’ll need a year or two to grow into the position, but once he adds the mass, he should be a great fit as a 3-Tech.
Just looking at Hardy’s offer list, you can see this was a big get for the Nittany Lions. While Penn State has brought in a couple four-star defensive tackles the last few years, it’s been mostly heartache on the recruiting trail, losing out on guys like Christian Wilkins, Karamo Dioubate, and Elijah Conliffe in recent years. With Hardy in the fold — and with the potential of someone like PJ Mustipher possibly joining him in the class — things are starting to turnaround at defensive tackle.
Welcome to Penn State, Dorian!