Penn State's Daequan Hardy Declares for NFL Draft

The cornerback will play in the Dec. 30 Peach Bowl against Ole Miss before beginning draft preparation.

Penn State cornerback Daequan Hardy will enter the 2024 NFL Draft after the Peach Bowl, becoming the fifth Nittany Lion to declare for the draft. Hardy also joins tight end Theo Johnson, linebacker Curtis Jacobs and right tackle Caedan Wallace in playing for Penn State in the Dec. 30 Peach Bowl against Ole Miss.

"I poured my heart on the field [and] made relationships that will last a lifetime," Hardy wrote in a social media post. "This place will forever be etched in my heart."

pic.twitter.com/saoA0VXYOW

— Big DaeDae😈 (@DaequanHardy) December 21, 2023

Hardy was among Penn State's most underrated players defensively, playing cornerback and nickel corner in Manny Diaz's defense. Hardy was named third-team All-Big Ten on defense after finishing his career with five interceptions and 20 pass breakups. According to Pro Football Focus, Hardy allowed a completion rate of just 47.5 percent in the secondary.

This season, Hardy also took over punt-return duties, earning second-team all-conference honors. Against Massachusetts, Hardy returned two punts for touchdowns, tying Penn State's single-season record. He led the Big Ten and ranked sixth nationally with a punt-return average of 14.6 yards per attempt.

Hardy, from Penn Hills near Pittsburgh, spent five seasons at Penn State. He was a 3-star prospect in the 2019 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite.

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