Interview with Marcus Hardy
Plenty of people know who Marcus Hardy is in Knoxville, Chapel Hill, Blacksburg, and Charlottesville. Thing is, up until Hardy's commitment to the University of Virginia, those people were all college football coaches. It seems that every day more people find out about the talented and athletic 6'3" 205 lb. wide receiver/tight end with 4.7 speed in the 40. He's hard to miss on the football field, but Hardy's understated demeanor reminds one of a current Cavalier who deserves a little more recognition as well (see the cover). That's a comparison Hardy wouldn't shy away from, we're sure.
SN spoke with Hardy's coach, Joe May before catching up with the player.
SN: What kind of season is Marcus having?
JM: Marcus is having a great season for us. Offensively, he's the leading pass receiver on the team, leading number of touchdown catches. On defense, he's having an outstanding year with interceptions, and he's one of our leading tacklers.
SN: In projecting him - what position do you think he'll shake out at?
JM: That's a good question, and its one of the questions we've been asked by several of the schools that recruited Marcus in the past, and of course UVA as well. I think he's the type of athlete that will fit in wherever you need him. Certainly he has the tools, the athletic ability to be a receiver on the college level. I think he also has the ability to play defense as well. It's pretty much going to be up to the program and where they have needs and where he can fit in best for them.
SN: How does he compare to some of your other college players of the past?
JM: He has a great amount of potential. At his position, we've had some good athletes on defense, and line - of course Maurice Anderson - Marcus is not a lineman, but he certainly has ability to play linebacker with anyone we've had.
SN: Is his commitment firm?
JM: Marcus is very high on UVa and seems very comfortable with making the decision early.
SN: Is he a good student?
JM: He's a very strong academic student, and I think that's a real plus in his favor.
SN: Marcus, what were the major factors in your commitment to Virginia?
MH: They offered me pretty early. They didn't beat around the bush like some schools do; it seemed like they wanted me more than the other schools. Rather than see if I was interested in them, they were interested in me. I like Coach Wilmer, it's close to home, and they were talking about me playing offense. Some schools have been talking to me about playing linebacker, which I really don't want to play. I'm not interested in defense too much. I would play it to help the team but -
SN: What games have you attended in Charlottesville?
MH: I went to the Duke game.
SN: Having seen a few games, if you were at UVA, where do you think you would fit in on the field?
MH: I'm not sure. Probably between tight end and wide receiver - I'm about 205 [lbs.], so I don't know.
SN: How is your season going so far this year?
MH: It's going well, you know. People didn't think that we would have as good a team this year because we lost a lot of seniors from our State Championship team, so we've been proving a lot of people wrong, we're first in the district now and we're 7-2. We're going good - we've got Bluestone next.
SN: Did you speak to Maurice Anderson [also from Nottoway H.S.] at all during the recruiting process?
MH: Not really, I talked to him while I was at the North Carolina - Virginia game in Chapel Hill. He basically told me that UVA liked me, but we didn't talk about recruiting that much.
SN: Apparently there are some schools that are still recruiting you - if so, who?
MH: Virginia Tech a little bit. They called me the week of the Syracuse game and asked me about coming up. Tennessee, East Carolina - they want me to play both ways.
SN: Are you even considering those schools?
MH: Tennessee, not really, because they want me to play linebacker. East Carolina, I was kind of considering. Virginia Tech, I was considering a little bit, because my cousin plays there, Mike Hawkes [a Tech linebacker].
SN: Do you talk to him much?
MH: No, I haven't talked to him since this summer, and we never really talked about coaches or recruiting.
SN: So if signing day was tomorrow, are you going to Virginia?
MH: Most definitely.
SN: While the door isn't closed entirely, essentially your mind is made up.
MH: Yes, sir.
SN: You have a growing reputation around the state with some of Nottoway's opposing coaches, how would you describe yourself on the field, and what are some of your statistics?
MH: I like special teams, I like returning punts and kickoffs. Coach May really throws the ball, until we're winning - the second half I don't even expect a pass because we're just going to grind the clock out. I've yet to run a kick back for a touchdown, but I've almost broken a couple of them. I've got two touchdowns on defense from interceptions. On offense, I've got eight touchdown catches and about 25 total receptions.
SN: Are you normally lining up wideout?
MH: Well, we have a formation with two tight ends, a wingback, and two in the backfield, and I'm the weak side tight end. When we go 'Pro' and spread teams out I line up as a split end.
SN: If you had to pick one thing about UVA that led to your decision, other than the coaching staff, what really stood out for you?
MH: There's stability. Coach Wilmer and Coach Welsh have been there a long time. There's not that much change and turmoil. UVA is perennially a successful team; it's close to home, and the education. If you get a diploma from UVA, you have a good chance of having a good job. It really wasn't just one thing.
SN: You have good grades, so education was important to you?
MH: Yes, sir.
SN: What are your interests; do you know what you want to major in?
MH: Not really, because I change my mind probably every month. Right now, I'm interested in doing something like working in a bank. Finance or business school.
SN: If you were to describe yourself to me what kind of person are you?
MH: Pretty much laid back. I don't get in to too many things. I like to sit back and see what other people are doing, make sure everything is okay. I like to let other people make the first move. I don't want to be the first one to jump in to a bad situation.
SN: What are your interests outside of sports?
MH: I like music. Right now I like the Rough Riders.
SN: If you had a free Saturday afternoon, no recruiting, what would you do?
MH: Probably watch sports, football games all day. Then see what my girlfriend is doing. That's it.
SN: Is she a senior as well?
MH: No, she's a junior. We've been dating about three years.
SN: Is she going to go to Virginia as well?
MH: She wanted to go, but I don't know if her grades will be good enough.
SN: Are you helping her study?
MH: With her math classes.
SN: What are your goals for your senior year, and do you think you'll be able to attain them?
MH: Trying to repeat in football. Also, I wanted to graduate with honors. I'm on track to do that. I have a 2.9 and I have to get to a 3.0. I want to finish my year strong to get prepared for college life. I don't want to have my parents on my back, because they're not going to be there next year.
SN: Do you play other sports, if so, what?
MH: Yeah, I play basketball. I pretty much play every position; it pretty much depends on how he subs. Sometimes I play point guard, but sometimes I play down low.
SN: Did you attend the Florida State game with your family? Are you close knit?
MH: Yes, I was with my mother and father. We're close.
SN: Was that one of the reasons to pick UVA - its proximity?
MH: Not really, it was the education. I mean, they offered me, and Virginia Tech, Tennessee, and North Carolina were recruiting me. All of them were pretty much the same. Virginia Tech has a good team this year, but they're not always that caliber of a team, so I figured that there was pretty much no difference between all four schools. The only difference I saw was UVA's education and I liked the coaching staff better.
SN: So what are you looking forward to about being in college next year?
MH: Something new. Being on your own, and playing college football. I've watched so many games, and just to be in the atmosphere, on the field, and on the sidelines, being part of a team, wearing the uniform - everything.
SN: Have you thought about redshirting?
MH: Redshirting, I don't have a problem with it. I'd love to go out there and play my first year, but if I get redshirted, whatever's best for the team.
SN: Have you set a date for your official visit yet?
MH: No, I haven't even set a date.
SN: Is there anything that we've left out?
MH: I love to win. I'd do just about anything that's not underhanded to win. I always have good sportsmanship, I'm competitive, and I'll do anything to help the team out.
SN: Will you go to the Georgia Tech game?
MH: I don't think so; I'll probably watch it on television.
Chris MacAulay, The Sabre, November 2nd, 1999