Jay Hardy

Liberty Football Media Day on July 20th, 2023. (Photo by Cassidy Paxton).

Class:
Junior
Position:
DT
Height:
6-3
Weight:
300
Prev School:
Auburn
Hometown:
Chattanooga, Tenn.

2024 (Sr.):

Lombardi Award Preseason Watch List (nation’s top lineman or linebacker)

2023 (Jr.):

Saw playing time in all 14 games
Started five games, including the final four games of the season at defensive tackle
Finished the season with 31 tackles (12 solo, 19 assisted)
Ranked fourth on the team in tackles for a loss (five for 24 yards)
Also added two sacks (17 yards)
Finished the year with a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry
Helped Liberty finish the season ranked No. 9 in the country in turnovers gained (25), No. 21 in turnover margin (0.50) and No. 24 in rushing defense (116.7 yards allowed per game)
Three tackles, including two solo stops, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry against Buffalo
Two solo tackles, including a five-yard sack, against Louisiana Tech
Four tackles, including three assisted stops, against Old Dominion
Finished with a season-high five stops against UTEP, including three tackles for a loss and a 12-yard sack
Four stops, including three assisted tackles, against New Mexico State in the CUSA Football Championship game
Recorded three stops, including two solo tackles, against No. 8 Oregon in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl

2022 (So):

Saw playing time in all 13 games
Started the season opener against Southern Miss
Finished the season with 16 tackles (eight solo, eight assisted)
Also added 1.5 tackles for a loss (two yards)
Recorded one quarterback hurry and pass breakup
Finished the Gardner-Webb game with a season-high four solo tackles
Two assisted stops against Arkansas during Liberty’s first-ever victory over an SEC team
A solo tackle and a pass breakup against Virginia Tech
Two tackles against New Mexico State, including an assisted tackle for a loss
Three tackles, including two solo stops, against Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl

2021 (R-Fr.):

Did not see any playing time during his first season at Liberty

Previous School:

Transferred to Liberty from Auburn
Saw playing time in one game as a true freshman in 2020 against Northwestern in Citrus Bowl

Prep:

Graduated from McCallie High School in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Played defensive end and tight end for head coach Ralph Potter and the Blue Tornado
11-2 record as a senior, winning the Division II Class AAA state title
TSWA first team all-state
Also a letterwinner in basketball
Rivals rated him the No. 1 prospect in Tennessee
Top 10 nationally at his position by 247Sports and Rivals

Personal:

Son of Shelly and John Hardy
Interdisciplinary Studies major
Birthday is December 17

Student-Athlete Q&A
What made Liberty University the right place for you to attend college/compete at the collegiate level?
Hugh Freeze is the reason I came to Liberty.

Is there anything special you do pregame or postgame and why?
I listen to music.

Who in your life inspires you and why are they such an inspiration?
My family inspires me because I want them to live a better life.

What is your most memorable athletic moment/accomplishment?
When my team played in State championship.

If you picked your jersey/uniform number, why is that number important to you?
I chose 4 because it was the number I started college with and I thought it was time to change it from 8.

Do you have any relatives who are playing or have played college or professional sports? (Names, relation to you, what/where they played)?
My older brother Kevin Cooper.

Favorite meal (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and what is that special meal?
My favorite meal is tator tot casserole.

What is the first app you check on your phone each day?
I check Teamworks in the morning.

What is your favorite hobby outside of athletics?
I like to play video games outside of sports.

Who was your favorite athlete growing up?
My favorite athlete growing up was Chris Johnson.

What is your Go-To karaoke song?
Fight the feelings by Rod wave.

What is your dream vacation spot and why?
The Dominican Republic has always been a place I wanted to visit.