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One-on-One with the
Pirates
Monday,
August 13, 2010
By Ron Cherubini |
By
Ron Cherubini
©2012 Bonesville.net
All rights reserved.
Justin Hardy’s rise from walk-on to star inside wide receiver at East
Carolina reads akin to a Hollywood script. Rocky Balboa’s self-belief and
determination ain’t got jack on Hardy. A standout player at West Craven High
School just down the road from the ECU campus, Hardy saw very little
interest from colleges. It is a script played out over and over and over
again at rural high schools all over the country. The really good player
gets overlooked. Most of the time, the story ends like this: Same kid, a few
years later, sitting at the bar with friends watching college football
lamenting about how that should be him up there on that screen.
But Hardy went the other direction. He so believed in his ability to play
that he walked in the door at ECU and took a position. Not content on being
practice squad fodder, he was dead set on being a real game-changer. If
Hardy is likened to Rocky, then that would make offensive coordinator
Lincoln Riley a very young – but just as much the mentor – Mickey, Rocky’s
trainer. The Mick saw it in Rocky right away and together they brought out
the best of his talents. Riley, likewise, made it clear from the first day
he assessed the receivers at ECU that Justin Hardy would be one of the best
to come out of the program.
Insanity at the time considering that among the receivers in the coffers
were Dwayne Harris and Lance Lewis, both in the NFL now. But, in just over a
year, Hardy not only found himself starting at the “Y” position, but also
playing like a veteran despite being a redshirt freshman. Now, considered
already to be among the best receivers in Conference USA, Hardy continues to
climb, continues to hone his craft, continues to believe his opportunities
are limitless. His saga is a true feel-good story that also provides a heck
of a benefit to the team on the field.
Justin was kind enough to sit down for a chat with Bonesville to share his
insights on the upcoming season.
Justin Hardy in action
(ECU SID photo)
One-on-One with Justin Hardy
Q: So, not long ago you
were a guy walking on to this team. Today you are
largely considered one of the fast-rising, elite
receivers in C-USA. Talk about your journey to this
point.
A: Every minute of it
has meant a lot to me. I was a preferred walk-on, so
I knew I was going to at least get a chance and
Coach (Lincoln) Riley gave me that chance. I am so
thankful for that chance and so when I made the
team, it really made me work harder and harder. I
put my trust in (the coaches) and they put trust in
me and now a dream has come true for me.
Q: Coach Riley has
always been a strong advocate for you and your
practice efforts. Talk about what he has meant for
your development.
A: I am thankful for the
relationship I have with Coach Riley. We talk about
things — you know football and other things. We have
gotten together to talk — maybe grab something to
eat together — during the off-season. It is a very
important connection for me. He has always believed
in my abilities and (the relationship) motivates me
each day.
Q: When you assess your
performance last season, what stands out to you and
what have you been building on, working on? [Is
there] one play you would like to have back from
last season?
A: I have always
practiced hard and learned that I need to always
focus on practicing harder each day. The harder you
practice, the easier it is to play games. I work at
being as prepared as I can be for anything we do out
here. One play at a time. One play… hmmm… it would
definitely be that drop I had against Virginia Tech
on the first drive. That one hurt and it is a catch
I should have made.
Q: I know this is an
unfair question, but with four guys battling for the
QB role, does it make a difference to you who wins
it? One word on each: Rio, Shane, Brad, Cody?
A: It really doesn’t
matter to me. I don’t have a preference. All four of
those guys could be a starter. For me, the
competition at quarterback makes my practice better
because those four guys are all on it and so I am
getting great reps each time. [A word or phrase to
describe each of the QBs:] Rio Johnson: He’s a great
guy, a good passer and he understands this offense;
Shane Carden: Another great passer and a more mobile
type of quarterback and really knows the offense,
too; Brad Wornick: He is a true veteran… shows good
leadership and a good passer, too; Cody Keith:
Young, great potential, another mobile passer.
Q: What player on this
team do you most respect and why?
A: I have to give you
two:
Jeremy Grove
and
Damon Magazu.
They both play hard every minute they are on the
field. They let their play speak for itself. They
are leaders and they are dependable. And they are
both great guys off the field.
Q: Who is your candidate
for break-out receiver this season?
A: Reese Wiggins is one
for sure. He came on late last year and was like…
man… he can take it all the way. J.J. (Justin
Jones), he is going to be great, great this year. He
is all healthy and I think he will have a huge year.
Then there is Bodie (Andrew Bodenheimer). He is our
leader, no question, and I also would say Dayon
(Arrington). I think he is going to have a big year,
too. All the guys on this corps could have a huge
season.
Q: You have had a chance
to work against some pretty good secondary guys and
linebackers in pass coverage last season. How is our
pass coverage looking from your perspective?
A: The secondary,
honestly, looks better this season than last year.
They are all selling out for the system. I know we
lost three starters but I think we actually have a
better secondary this year.
E-mail
Ron Cherubini
PAGE UPDATED
08/13/12 06:04 AM.
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