Decision day stunner: Auburn reaches into Tennessee to land commitment from 4-star lineman Jay Hardy
Tennessee had long been trending with McCallie School standout lineman Jay Hardy and considering the Volunteers glaring need to add defensive linemen to the program’s 2020 recruiting class, nearly everyone assumed the Chattanooga native was staying within the state’s borders and would be committing to Jeremy Pruitt’s program on Wednesday.
Everyone thinking that was wrong.
Coming off an official visit to Auburn for the Ole Miss game, Hardy shocked the recruiting world by picking the Tigers during a ceremony at McCallie School on Wednesday morning. Hardy’s over finalists were Auburn, Georgia and Georgia Tech.
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound prospect rates as a four-star prospect, the No. 5 strongside defensive end, Tennessee’s No. 5 overall prospect and a top 120 recruit nationally by 247Sports Composite Rankings. His “Crystal Ball” by 247Sports projections were 100 percent in favor of Tennessee leading up to his decision.
Following Hardy’s commitment, Auburn now has 19 total commitments for the 2020 recruiting cycle — Hardy is the fourth-highest rated prospect in the class.
Gus Malzahn’s latest recruiting class currently ranks No. 8 nationally and No. 5 in the SEC for the 2020 cycle. Hardy joins Daniel Foster-Allen as the only defensive linemen committed to the Tigers class at this point.
To get an idea of what Hardy can bring to Kevin Steele’s defense, check out his junior season McCallie School highlight reel:
Huge surprise and much needed for my Tigers. DL recruiting has been down this year for some strange reason. Seeing how 3 starters will be going in the first couple of rounds of the draft, the opportunity is there.
Who is the third guy ?
Despite his lack of production this year, I still expect Coe to be a second round guy.
You really think someone will pick him up? I mean personally I think it would be wise for him to stay being he would be starting every game next year
I think he probably should return, but I don’t know what’s going on with him the past few weeks. His measurables and output from last year will guarantee he gets drafted. I would be surprised if he returns.
No surprise here. Steele, Gardner and T-Will have shown they know how to develop talent. Wish I could say the same about CGM and our QBs.
What a joke. Don’t forget to pack plenty of mosquito repellent.
Not gonna lie, this is a hard pill to swallow. Young man down the street so to speak that spurns an opportunity to play almost immediately AND help get the program back on the rise. We’ve lost enough talent from our own state to be in a much better position football wise than we are today. Cade Mays, Tee Higgins, Amari Rodgers, Von Bell and list goes on. Geez, I’m at a loss for words. Congrats to Auburn on winning this recruiting battle. GBO