Sports

Watch: Meet Falcons 4th round pick Justin Hardy

May 10, 2015

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Falcons wide receiver Justin Hardy signed his contract with the team. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/dledbetter@ajc.com)
Falcons wide receiver Justin Hardy signed his contract with the team. (D. Orlando Ledbetter/dledbetter@ajc.com)

Justin Hardy, WR

Round: Fourth. College: East Carolina. Height: 5-10 1/4. Weight: 192 lbs. Hometown: Vanceboro, N.C. High school: West Craven. Age: 23 Highlights: He set the record for most career receptions in FBS history last season. Hardy played in 63 games for the Pirates and finished his career with 387 catches for 4,541 yards and 35 touchdowns. He broke the record against Tulane last season in a 34-6 victory. He moved past the previous record of 349 set by Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles in 2011. Hardy had only a Division II scholarship offer in high school before ending up at East Carolina as a preferred walk-on. He signed with Fayetteville State, but was given a release to walk-on at ECU. He spent his first season on the scout team before earning a scholarship a year later and quickly earning a lead role in the pass-heavy offense.

About the Author

Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.

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