FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons rookie wide receiver Justin Hardy, one of the stars of the exhibition season, is quietly plying his wares in practice.
He has been inactive for the first six games, but has been steadily improving.
Wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie, who spotted Hardy during the scouting process, felt that he had the talent to be developed in to a strong NFL player.
“As much as anybody, we have a Plan B in affect where we are trying to work a number of guys whether on the active roster or the practice squad,” Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. “We kind of treat everybody as one big group. (Hardy’s) for one has made a huge improvement in terms of beating man-to-man, beating press (coverage) at the line. He’s chomping at the bit to get his opportunity.”
Here’s a Q&A with Hardy after he was drafted in May.
Nick Williams, who has six catches for 55 yards, has been active for all games.
Hardy, who was taken in the fourth round out of East Carolina, said he’s just been trying to work hard in practice.
“Just getting a chance to get out there and get everything down and just go hard in practice,” Hardy said. “I feel pretty good.”
Hardy caught 11 passes for 130 yards with a long of 31 yards in the exhibition season. He returned four punts for 94 yards, including a 70-yarder.
The former walk-on at East Carolina know about working hard to earn his playing time.
“There is no disappointment at all,” Hardy said. “I understand that it’s a business, but at the same time I just try to work on myself … so that when I get my named called, I’ll be ready to perform.”
Hardy admits that it has been tough at times.
“You have to make the most of it,” Hardy said. “I come from a place where if you practice hard, then the game-time will come easy. That’s one of the things that I’ve always done since I was in college. That’s what I’ve been trying incorporate since I’ve been here.”
Hardy set the record for most career receptions in bowl subdivision 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 pass the previous record of 349 set by Oklahoma’s Ryan Broyles in 2011.
Hardy had just one Division II scholarship offer in high school before ending up at East Carolina as a preferred walk-on. He had originally signed with Fayetteville State, but was given a release to walk-on at ECU.
He spent his first year on the scout team before earning a scholarship a year later and quickly earning a lead role in the pass-heavy offense.
