UC Cornerback JQ Hardaway Named to ESPN's Preseason Freshman All-America Team

The lanky defender has stood out during fall camp.

CINCINNATI — ESPN released its preseason true freshman All-America team, and JQ Hardaway made an appearance. The defensive back is a favorite of Tom Luginbill's.

"Sauce Gardner, Coby Bryant, and Bryan Cook are all gone in the secondary," Luginbill wrote. "Enter Hardaway, a 6-2 corner that can shut down one side of the field. He is the type of signee that helps Cincinnati prove it belongs in the Power 5."

If fall camp is any indication, this isn't a far-fetched prediction. The Bearcats will use upwards of 5-6 cornerbacks throughout this season, and Hardaway is right in the mix of that rotation.

Defense holds that drive in the red zone. JQ Hardaway with nice coverage on that drive…#Bearcats

— Russ Heltman (@russheltman11) August 13, 2022

He has worked with all three strings of the defense so far this month, and he stands out at first glance with a growing 6-foot-3 frame. Hardaway is drawing comparisons to Sauce Gardner, which as of right now is a little unfair, but not necessarily out of the question.

According to 247Sports, Hardaway was the Bearcats' second-highest ranked recruit this cycle and slotted 340th nationally in 2022.

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