GREENVILLE — On Saturdays, elusive East Carolina wide receiver Justin Hardy has become a master of all patterns as he zigzagged his way to over 80 receptions and 1,000 yards to become an All-Conference USA first-team selection in 2012 as a sophomore.
However, when it comes to his career pattern, the rising junior only knows one direction: up.
The 6-0, 186-pound former West Craven High quarterback arrived at the ECU campus via walk-on invitation in 2010 looking to catch on at receiver and had to redshirt while making the transition.
Hardy would prove to be a fast learner.
In his first year on the active roster he started eight of the 10 games he played in and smashed the Pirates freshman receiving records for yards and catches, grabbing 64 passes for 658 yards and six touchdowns to land a spot on the Conference USA All-Freshmen team.
Last year, the master of route running continued his streak pattern up the school’s record books as his 88 receptions and 1,105 yards were each the third best single-season totals in ECU’s history.
“After my freshman year I set a pretty good mark for myself and just wanted to be better than I was,” Hardy said. “I just wanted to take it to the next level.”
It comes as no surprise Hardy’s goal for this season is to improve upon last year’s success, and operating in an offense that makes it hard for defenses to focus on one player there’s no reason to think he won’t.
“That’s the thing about this offense, it’s hard to double guys and if (defenses) do they just give us something else that’s so big,” ECU offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley said. “If they give more attention to one guy or one side of the ball than we’re going to be able to take advantage of it.”
Double-teamed or not, Hardy is able to make an impact on the field thanks to his devotion to becoming a complete receiver.
“He doesn’t have a lot of weaknesses,” Riley said. “He’s a smart player and he understands the game and makes a lot of adjustments throughout the game. He’s tough and he’s got great hands, especially in traffic.”
Hardy’s soft hands were on full display in ECU’s regular season finale against Marshall last year as he caught a school-record 16 passes for 171 yards during the Pirates 65-59 double-overtime victory over the Thundering Herd.
Hardy’s elevator ride up the Pirates record book appears to be headed all the way to the penthouse as he enters his junior year second on the school’s all time receptions list with 152 and needs to average just 58 catches over the next two seasons to tie current Dallas Cowboy Dwayne Harris’ career mark of 268.
The crafty wide receiver is also in arms length of Harris’ receiving yards record of 3,001, needing only 1,239 to take over the top spot.
Though those records are well within grasp, Hardy’s goal for this season is the same as it has been since he arrived in 2010 saying, “My plan is to just be better than I was last year.”