Daequan Hardy

CAREER NOTES & RECORDS

Career: Finished tied for fourth in school history in punt return touchdowns (2) and seventh in punt return average (14.6)

Season: 2023: Tied for the school record for most punt return touchdowns in a season (2) with Larry Johnson (2001), Bruce Branch (1999), O.J. McDuffie (1991) and Jimmy Cefalo (1977).

Game: 2023: Returned two punts for touchdowns against UMass (10/14) with a 56-yard return, the first of his career, in the first quarter and a 68-yard return in the second quarter...Became the first player in school history to return multiple punt returns for touchdowns in a single game...Since 2000, Hardy is the 25th FBS player to return two punt returns for touchdowns in a game. He is one of two Big Ten players joining Iowa’s Kevonte Martin-Manley (vs. Western Michigan, 2013).

2023 • REDSHIRT SENIOR SEASON

Awards: Postseason: Earned second-team All-America honors from CBS Sports as a punt returner...Named second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media as a return specialist...Was a third-team All-Big Ten honoree as a cornerback voted by the coaches and an honorable mention selection voted by the media...Earned the team's Bob Mitinger Memorial Award, recognizing a squad member who exhibits courage, character and social responsibility. Weekly: Named Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week (10/16).

Season: Appeared in 11 games, making four starts, posting 22 tackles (12 solo), two interceptions, three tackles for loss, a sack and seven pass breakups...Also had 17 punt returns for 248 yards (14.6) and two touchdowns...Earned the coaching staff's Special Teams Player of the Week twice (UMass, 10/14; Michigan State, 11/24).

Rankings: Led the nation in punt return touchdowns (2)...Ranked first in the Big Ten and fifth nationally in punt return average (14.6).

at Illinois (9/16): Intercepted a pass in the first quarter...Added a tackle. Iowa (9/23): Made one tackle. at Northwestern (9/30): Posted two solo tackles, an interception, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup...Interception came in the fourth quarter and returned it 34 yards, the longest return of his career. UMass (10/14): Returned two punts for touchdowns...Had a 56-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter and a 68-yard punt return touchdown in the third quarter...Added a tackle and two pass breakups. at Ohio State (10/21): Tallied a career-high three pass breakups, all in the first quarter...Notched six tackles and also combined with Kalen King with a tackle for loss in the second quarter. Indiana (10/28): Registered a solo sack in the first quarter...Added three punt returns for 19 yards. at Maryland (11/4): Assisted on a tackle for loss and broke up a pass. Michigan (11/11): Posted a 5-yard punt return. at Michigan State (11/24): Logged 77 yards on seven punt returns, including a 38-yard return in the fourth quarter...Assisted on a tackle. vs. Ole Miss (12/30): Collected five tackles in the first half and finished the game with a career-high seven stops.

2022 • REDSHIRT JUNIOR SEASON

Season: Appeared in all 13 games at nickel corner...Registered 13 tackles (9 solo), a half sack, a forced fumble, an interception and four pass breakups...Also returned two kicks for 28 yards.

at Purdue (9/1): Made two solo tackles and two pass breakups...Had a key pass breakup late in the fourth quarter to force a punt and set up Penn State's eventual game-winning drive on offense. Ohio (9/10): Tallied a solo tackle. at Auburn (9/17): Made three solo stops. Central Michigan (9/24): Assisted on a tackle. Northwestern (10/1): Broke up a pass. at Michigan (10/15): Picked up two solo tackles...Forced the first fumble of his career. Minnesota (10/22): Assisted on three tackles...Added a half sack. Ohio State (10/29): Picked up one solo stop...Returned one kick for 22 yards. at Indiana (11/5): Picked off a pass and returned it 18 yards. Michigan State (11/26): Posted a quarterback hurry.

2021 • REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE SEASON

Awards: Named a Pro Football Focus honorable mention All-Big Ten honoree.

Season: Appeared in 13 games, making one start...Was Penn State's primary nickel cornerback...Made 16 tackles (11 solo) with three tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and seven pass breakups...Also returned an interception for a touchdown...Named the coaching staff's Defensive Player of the Week twice (Ball State, 9/11; Indiana, 10/2).

Rankings: Was tied for 12th in the Big Ten in passes defended (9) and tied for 15th in pass breakups (7) .

at Wisconsin (9/4): Recorded a solo tackle. Ball State (9/11): Tallied three tackles (2 solo) and made his first career interception. Auburn (9/18): Recorded two tackles. Villanova (9/25): Posted two pass breakups. Indiana (10/2): Made first career start...Tallied two pass breakups...Added a solo tackle. at Iowa (10/9): Made a career-high two tackles-for-loss and recorded his first career sack. Illinois (10/23): Tallied a pass breakup. at Ohio State (10/30): Recorded three tackles (2 solo). at Maryland (11/6): Tallied two tackles and a pass breakup. Michigan (11/13): Had a pass breakup. Rutgers (11/20): Recorded a tackle for loss. at Michigan State (11/27): Recorded his first career interception return for a touchdown...Return was a 17-yarder in the third quarter to give the Nittany Lions a 20-17 lead. vs. Arkansas (1/1): Assisted on a tackle.

2020 • REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON

Season: Appeared in nine games...Made 10 tackles (8 solo) to go along with three pass breakups, a sack and a QB hurry.

at Indiana (10/24): Recorded one tackle. Maryland (11/7): Assisted on one tackle. Iowa (11/21): Made one solo stop. at Michigan (11/28): Made a two solo tackles. at Rutgers (12/5): Posted two tackles, including one solo stop...Collected his first career sack and tackle for loss in the first quarter...Added a pass breakup. Michigan State (12/12): Recorded two solo stops...Had a pass breakup and QB hurry.

2019 • TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON

Awards: Named Penn State's Developmental Squad's Defensive Player of the Year, along with Max Chizmar and Smith Vilbert.

Season: Redshirt season...Appeared in two games...Five-time Developmental Squad Defensive Player of the Week (Purdue, 10/5; Minnesota, 11/9; Indiana, 11/16; Ohio State, 11/23; Rutgers, 11/30).

HIGH SCHOOL

Three-time letterman for head coach Jon LeDonne at Penn Hills High School...Was a two-time team captain...Had four touchdowns, including a 100-yard interception return and 84-yard kickoff return in the 2018 PIAA Class 5A Championship game, to lead the Indians their first state title since 1995...Chosen as 2018 Mr. PA Football Big School (Classes 4A-6A)...Named to the All-USA Pennsylvania Football Team first team by USA Today in 2018...Selected as the Pa. Football Writers 5A State Player of the Year in 2018...Earned first-team all-state honors as an athlete from the Pennsylvania Football Writers as a senior...Selected as the TribLive High School Sports Network Football Player of the Year as a senior...Chosen as a 2018 Fab 22 honoree by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette...Collected Big 33 honors as a senior...Was a two-time all-conference selection in 2017 and 2018...Selected as team MVP as a senior...Scored 22 touchdowns in five different ways (receiving, rushing, interception return, kickoff return, punt return) as a senior, including 10 scoring plays for 60 yards or more...Grabbed 10 interceptions and finished with 817 receiving yards in 2018...Had eight interceptions to go along with 769 receiving yards and nine total touchdowns as a junior...Rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports and a two-star recruit by Rivals...Rated as the No. 70 cornerback and No. 16 recruit in Pennsylvania by 247Sports...Participated in track & field.

PERSONAL

Full name is Daequan Keith Hardy...Son of Courtney Wilson and Darren Hardy...Hobbies include reading books...Majoring in psychology...Would like to become a sales manager.

2022

fumbles
REC	LOST	FUM
0.0	0.0	1.0

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
0.5	1.0	13.0	0.0	2.0	0.5	9.0

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
0.0	18.0	18.0	1.0

kickReturns
LONG	YDS	NO	TD	AVG
22.0	28.0	2.0	0.0	14.0

2021

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
3.0	0.0	15.0	1.0	6.0	1.0	11.0

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
1.0	8.0	16.0	2.0

2020

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
1.0	1.0	10.0	0.0	2.0	1.0	8.0