GREENVILLE — His coach calls him “Deuce,” but if Justin Hardy can continue to rack up big time receiving numbers he’s going to be known as No. 1.
Seven games into the season the East Carolina junior, referred to as Deuce because of his jersey number, has caught 67 passes for an FBS third-best 9.6 receptions per contest for an average of 109.3 yards per game, which is the 15th best total in the country.
During the Pirates 55-14 victory over Southern Miss Hardy hauled in his 21st touchdown pass of his career, putting him one  away from tying Lance Lewis’ school record of 22.
As East Carolina (5-2, 3-1) heads into Saturday’s Conference USA clash with Florida International, Deuce ranks No. 2 on the school’s all-time list in career receptions and receiving yards and is on pace to top Dwayne Harris’ single-season marks for catches (101) and yards (1,123).
In two-plus seasons Hardy has accrued 219 receptions, leaving him 50 away from breaking Harris’ record of 268, while his 2,528 receiving yards are 474 away from eclipsing Harris’ 3,001 career receiving yards.
Despite his meteoric rise up the record books, Hardy’s only concern is the next game.
“It feels pretty good, but I’m really not focused on that right now,” Hardy said. “I’m just going into every game trying to get a win.”
Hardy has been on fire in the past two games, turning in a record-setting 17-catch, 230-yard performance against Tulane, before grabbing 10 passes for 126 yards against Southern Miss to bring his two-game total to 27 receptions for 356 yards.
What makes Hardy’s efforts even more impressive is the fact that he’s doing it while several key receivers have been sidelined due to injury or suspension.
Star players raise their level of play when the spotlight is the brightest and ECU offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley said that Hardy has become a perfect role model to the rest of the receivers.
“It’s a great example for our other receivers,” Riley said. “He continues to improve and continues to work hard.”
It’s that work ethic that has continued to impress McNeill and has drawn comparisons to another star receiver who was simply referred to as a number.
“’Deuce and 17 (Dwayne Harris) are similar. They don’t say much at practice. I can go ‘Deuce you good?’ and he’ll throw his thumb up and I’ll throw my thumb up,” McNeill said. “But, he competes and works hard every snap. He competes like he’s fighting for his job. I’ve seen that a couple of times with guys like Wes Welker, Graham Harrell, Dexter Coakley and (Michael) Crabtree. They were like that, and (ECU QB) Shane (Carden) is like that.”
Standing at 6-0, 186 pounds, Hardy doesn’t have the size that makes NFL scouts drool or the blazing 4.2 speed, but his dedication to his craft has allowed the former walk-on from West Craven to become the most well rounded receiver in the conference.
“He catches everything, he’s smart and he’s a really good blocker. There’s not many things he’s not good at,” Riley said. “… He’s driven, very driven. He’s an internally motivated kid. He’s not a guy you get a lot of rah-rah from. You don’t have to jumpstart him much, but he works.
“A lot of people get success and they want to sit back and relax, but he’s one of the smart ones that says ‘Well, if I’m having success doing that then I want to keep doing it and getting better and better.’”
How much better can he get? Nobody knows. But, the one thing that is certain is that Hardy will keep going hard until the final whistle blows.