Montario Hardesty

Last updated

Montario Hardesty
Montario Hardesty.jpg
Hardesty with the Cleveland Browns in 2011
No. 31, 20
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1987-02-01) February 1, 1987 (age 37)
New Bern, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school: New Bern
College: Tennessee (2005–2009)
NFL draft: 2010  / Round: 2 / Pick: 59
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts:153
Rushing yards:537
Rushing touchdowns:1
Receptions:16
Receiving yards:138
Player stats at PFR

Montario Hardesty (born February 1, 1987), is an American football coach and former running back. Hardesty played college football at the University of Tennessee, where he amassed fewer than 400 yards in each of his first four seasons before breaking out with 1,345 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns in 2009. In 2015, Hardesty became the running backs coach and special teams coordinator for Norfolk State University. He was the wide receivers coach for the Charlotte 49ers football program from 2019 to 2020, and the running backs coach at the University of South Carolina from 2021 to 2023.

Contents

Early life

Hardesty played football at New Bern High School. [1] As a senior in 2004, he rushed for 2,002 yards on 272 carries. He had 19 rushing touchdowns. He was considered a four-star recruit and ranked 100th on the Rivals.com's list of the top 100 players in the class of 2005. [2] He was recruited as an "athlete", with the potential to play both running back and safety. Hardesty was considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com. He chose to play for the University of Tennessee. [3]

College career

Hardesty was a three-year letter winner at Tennessee. He amassed 2,391 rushing yards on 560 attempts, 405 receiving yards on 38 receptions, and 26 total touchdowns. [4]

Hardesty was granted a medical hardship for the 2005 season because of a knee injury he suffered against Ole Miss. [5] He rushed 6 times for 18 yards before his injury. [6] In 2006, Hardesty started the season with a 43-yard touchdown run against the University of California. [7] His best game of the season was a 72-yard performance against the Air Force Academy. [8] He played in 13 games. He finished the season with 384 rushing yards and four touchdowns. [9]

Hardesty's 2007 season wasn't quite as good as his 2006 season. He had a touchdown in the opening game of the season against the University of California once again. [10] He finished the year with 373 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. [11] 2008 was the worst statistical season of Hardesty's career at Tennessee. He ran for 271 yards, finishing the season with 6 touchdowns. He passed the 1,000 career rushing yard mark against Vanderbilt University in the season's next-to-last game. [12]

In 2009, Hardesty was 20th in the NCAA's Division I-FBS division in rushing yards, with 1345 yards in 13 games. [13] He started the season off with 160 rushing yards and 1 touchdown against Western Kentucky University. [14] He has passed the 100 rushing yard mark four more times in the 2009 season, against Ohio University, the University of South Carolina, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Kentucky. He was the Southeastern Conference's fourth leading rusher in the 2009 season with 1,345 yards. [15] Hardesty was first in the SEC in carries with 282. [16]

Statistics

SeasonRushingReceiving
AttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
2005 6183.0110000.000
2006 1073843.64346549.0230
2007 893734.22633258.3210
2008 762713.62764246.0120
2009 2821,3454.843132530212.1471
Career 5602,3914.343263840510.7471

Track and field

Hardesty was also a standout athlete at New Bern High School. He was a state 100 meters finalist in 2003. He decided not to run track and field at the University of Tennessee. His personal bests are 10.36 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.65 seconds in the 200 meters.[ citation needed ]

Personal bests
EventTime (seconds)VenueDate
100 meters 10.36Greensboro, North CarolinaJuly 26, 2004
200 meters 21.65Greensboro, North CarolinaJuly 26, 2004

Professional career

Hardesty was picked in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. [17]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0 in
(1.83 m)		225 lb
(102 kg)		31 in
(0.79 m)		9+1⁄24.49 s4.14 s6.87 s41 in
(1.04 m)		10 ft 4 in
(3.15 m)		21 reps
All values from NFL Combine [18]

Hardesty was expected to compete for the starting running back position for the Browns, but was limited in pre-season due to injury. On September 2, in his first pre-season game against the Chicago Bears, he suffered a torn left ACL, sidelining him for the entire 2010 season. [19]

In the 2011 season, Hardesty played in ten games and finished with 88 carries for 266 rushing yards and 14 receptions for 122 yards. [20] In the 2012 season, Hardesty had 65 carries for 271 yards and one touchdown. His one touchdown occurred in Week 6 against the Bengals. [21]

On August 27, 2013, Hardesty was placed on injured reserve, effectively ending his 2013 NFL season. [22] He was released on September 30, 2013. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lance Ball</span> American football player (born 1985)

Lance Ball is a former American football running back. He was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at the University of Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeMarco Murray</span> American football player and coach (born 1988)

DeMarco Murray is an American football coach and former player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. A three-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time first-team All-Pro, he was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2014 after leading the NFL in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryce Brown</span> American football player (born 1991)

Bryce Lee Brown is a former American football running back who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, and Seattle Seahawks. He attended the University of Tennessee his freshman year of college, but decided to transfer to Kansas State after head coach Lane Kiffin left the program for USC. Later that year, Volunteers coach Derek Dooley declined to release Brown from his scholarship, resulting in Brown sitting out the 2010 season at Kansas State due to NCAA transfer rules. Brown left the Kansas State football team early in the 2011 season to enter the 2012 NFL Draft. In April 2012, Brown was drafted in the 7th round by the Philadelphia Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arian Foster</span> American football player (born 1986)

Arian Isa Foster is an American former football running back who is a musical artist under the name Bobby Feeno. He played college football at the University of Tennessee, and was signed by the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2009. Foster was known for his signature Namaste bow, which he frequently performed after scoring touchdowns. He holds the Texans franchise records for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, and also played for the Miami Dolphins. Foster announced his retirement from the NFL on October 24, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Johnson (running back)</span> American football player (born 1985)

Christopher Duan Johnson is an American former football running back. Born in Orlando, Florida, he emerged as a senior for East Carolina University, breaking out for 2,960 all-purpose yards and 24 touchdowns. Johnson was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft, after running a then-record breaking 4.24 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fozzy Whittaker</span> American football player (born 1989)

Foswhitt Jer'ald "Fozzy" Whittaker is an American former professional football player who was a running back and kick returner for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL), during which time he played in Super Bowl 50 with the Carolina Panthers. He also played partial seasons with the Cleveland Browns and San Diego Chargers, and was on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad for a season. He played college football for the Texas Longhorns, where he was a 2011 first-team All-Big 12 selection, in the special teams as a kick returner, and was named an honorable mention for the 2011 All-Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year. He also played in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game. He was a member of the Texas track and field team, and participated in the 2010 Big 12 Track and Field Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevan Ridley</span> American football player (born 1989)

Stevan Todd Ridley is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers and was selected by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft. Ridley has also played for the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, and Pittsburgh Steelers. With the Patriots, he won Super Bowl XLIX over the Seattle Seahawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denarius Moore</span> American football player (born 1989)

Denarius Earl Moore is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Turbin</span> American football player (born 1989)

Robert James Turbin is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah State Aggies, and was selected in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft by the Seahawks. With the Seahawks, he won Super Bowl XLVIII over the Denver Broncos. He has also played for the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, and Indianapolis Colts. He appears on CBS Sports Network as a commentator for their college football broadcasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rex Burkhead</span> American football player (born 1990)

Rex Burkhead is a former American football running back. He played college football at Nebraska and was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL draft. After four seasons with the Bengals, Burkhead spent his next four seasons with the New England Patriots, where he appeared in consecutive Super Bowls and won Super Bowl LIII. Burkhead joined the Houston Texans in 2021, spending two seasons with them before retiring in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derrick Henry</span> American football player (born 1994)

Derrick Lamar Henry Jr. is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed "King Henry", he is known for his imposing style of play and larger build than the average running back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Javorius Allen</span> American football player (born 1991)

Javorius "Buck" Allen is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football at USC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samaje Perine</span> American football player (born 1995)

Samaje Perine is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenyan Drake</span> American football player (born 1994)

Kenyan Drake is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide. Drake was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D'Onta Foreman</span> American football player (born 1996)

D'Onta Foreman is an American football running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns, and was selected by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He has also played in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, and Chicago Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alvin Kamara</span> American football player (born 1995)

Alvin Mentian Kamara is an American football running back for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee after transferring from Hutchinson Community College and was selected by the Saints in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He was named the NFL Rookie of the Year in 2017, was named a Pro Bowler in his first five NFL seasons, and is a two-time second-team All-Pro. In 2020, Kamara became the second player in NFL history to score six rushing touchdowns in a single game, tying Ernie Nevers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Najee Harris</span> American football player (born 1998)

Najee Jerome Harris is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama and was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Kelly (running back)</span> American football player (born 1996)

John Marshall Kelly Jr. is an American football running back for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Pollard</span> American football player (born 1997)

Tony Randall Pollard is an American football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Memphis, and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft.

Tykevius Chandler is an American football running back for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers before transferring to the North Carolina Tar Heels.

References

  1. ↑ Honeycutt, Jordan (February 10, 2018). "Hardesty feels at home back at Tennessee". New Bern Sun Journal. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  2. ↑ "2005 Rivals100 Prospect Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Montario Hardesty 2005 Athlete Tennessee". Rivals.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Montario Hardesty College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  5. ↑ Adams, John (August 9, 2017). "Montario Hardesty, former Vols running back, proves some four-stars shine late". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Montario Hardesty 2005 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  7. ↑ "California at Tennessee Box Score, September 2, 2006". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Air Force at Tennessee Box Score, September 9, 2006". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Montario Hardesty 2006 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Tennessee at California Box Score, September 1, 2007". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Montario Hardesty 2007 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Montario Hardesty 2008 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  13. ↑ "FBS (Division I-A) Player Rushing Statistics – 2009". espn.com. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Western Kentucky at Tennessee Box Score, September 5, 2009". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Montario Hardesty 2009 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  16. ↑ "2009 Southeastern Conference Leaders". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  17. ↑ "2010 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  18. ↑ "NFL Combine Profiles – Montario Hardesty". NFL.com. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Torn ACL to shelve Browns RB Hardesty for '10". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 3, 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Montario Hardesty 2011 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Montario Hardesty 2012 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  22. ↑ Alper, Josh (August 27, 2013). "Browns claim two off waivers, place Hardesty on injured reserve in a flurry of roster moves". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Browns waive RB Montario Hardesty, former 2nd-round pick plagued by injuries as pro". Fox News Channel. Associated Press. September 30, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.