One of the more peculiar recruiting stories of Tennessee football‘s 2020 recruiting class appears to be picking up right where it left off. Jay Hardy, a defensive tackle prospect out of the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., is entering the transfer portal after playing just one season with the Auburn Tigers.
2020 4-star DT Jay Hardy has entered the transfer portal after playing in one game during his true freshman season at Auburn @rivalsmike @BMattAU https://t.co/nUGBtgP8pG
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) May 3, 2021
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Nationally ranked in the top 150 as a high school recruit, Hardy was one of the big targets in Jeremy Pruitt’s 2020 recruiting class. After months of tossing and turning between UT and Auburn, Hardy signed with the Tigers in November 2019.
The coaching staff Hardy committed to then has since been scratched almost entirely. Former AU head Gus Malzahn is now with the UCF Knights, and the defensive line coach Hardy committed to play for, Rodney Garner, is now on Rocky Top.
Hardy’s only action in his first season came in Auburn’s 35-19 loss to the Northwestern Wildcats in the 2021 Citrus Bowl. At 6’3″ 317 pounds with at least three more seasons of collegiate eligibility, Hardy will likely be a top transfer prospect. Tennessee football will be in the mix now that Garner is on staff.
But has the ship already sailed on Hardy’s relationship with Rocky Top? Keep in mind, this is a player that reportedly told coaches and other recruits he was committing to the Vols before committing to Auburn.
After that commitment, Hardy then lied about his status as an uncommitted prospect despite already having signed to play with the Tigers. Thinking back, that was really quite odd. Does Hardy even want to play for the Vols?
With Josh Heupel now in charge of the UT program, maybe there are no hard feelings. After all, none of the coaches Hardy would’ve had a relationship with on Rocky Top are still in Knoxville. Garner may see to it that Hardy is a player UT could use. The Vols aren’t necessarily deprived of talent on the defensive line, but Hardy’s presence on the roster certainly wouldn’t hurt.
News of Hardy’s move comes days after rumors of another transfer player coming to Knoxville. Texas Longhorns transfer linebacker Juwan Mitchell, who led the team in tackles last year, attended the Orange and White game in April. Adding him to Tennessee football’s roster would fill an immediate need now with Quavaris Crouch joining the Michigan State Spartans.