Hardy gaining strength, confidence
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BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Elements of Nebraska wide receiver Frantz Hardy’s weight-gain plan seem rather simple.
For instance, he’s encouraged to lift weights regularly and eat essentially whatever he pleases.
As for those “sports shakes” he’s asked to consume, well, even Hardy is uncertain exactly what’s in them.
“James has some stuff up his sleeve,” said the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Hardy, referring to team nutritionist James Harris.
Hardy apparently has some tricks of his own, judging by his performance in last week’s 39-32 overtime victory over Kansas. The junior came up with a couple crucial receptions, including a 75-yard touchdown that gave Nebraska its final lead in regulation.
Hardy also had a 78-yard touchdown on a catch and run in the second quarter and finished with 159 yards on three receptions. As one might expect, he carries ample confidence into 22nd-ranked Nebraska’s Big 12 North showdown against Iowa State at 7 p.m. Saturday in Ames, Iowa.
Hardy, in fact, is playing this season with significantly more confidence than last season. He credits his improved physical strength — he has gained about 10 pounds of muscle since last season — as well as a stronger grasp of Nebraska’s complex West Coast system.
“It takes time to learn this offense,” Hardy said. “If you don’t know something, you’re not going to feel comfortable. Once you learn it, and start doing it over and over again, you get more comfortable and feel better out there (on the playing field). I feel way better than I felt last year.
“I still have a lot to learn, though.”
Hardy has seven receptions for 213 yards and three touchdowns this year. Last season, after transferring from Butler County (Kan.) Community College, the Florida native finished with 25 catches for 349 yards and a TD. However, Hardy made 19 of those receptions in the first six games and tailed off in the second half of the season.
Hardy started three of the first four games last year at the “X” wide receiver position before Nate Swift took over as starter midway through the season. They again share the position this season, with Swift listed as starter.
Nebraska wide receivers coach Ted Gilmore said he probably pushed Hardy into action too quickly last season and as a result hurt the player’s confidence.
Said Hardy: “Everything’s a learning experience. You learn from what happens, that’s all.”
Hardy and the rest of Nebraska’s receivers figure to offer a stern test for an Iowa State defense that ranks 108th nationally in passing yards allowed — 252.6 yards per game. Furthermore, the Cyclones (3-2, 0-1 Big 12) have the worst pass-completion defense in the nation (74.4 percent).
Meanwhile, Nebraska (4-1, 1-0) ranks fifth nationally in total offense (480.2) and 14th in passing offense (277.6). Husker quarterback Zac Taylor, who played with Hardy at Butler CC, ranks fourth in pass efficiency with a 180.35 rating.
Hardy supplies the Huskers with a big-play threat, said Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan, who calls all of the plays.
“We always felt that Frantz had big-play potential,” the coach said. “That was evident in last week’s game, and it was evident a few times last year. He has all of the tools. He has the speed and burst you look for in a wide receiver. He can catch it short, long, intermediate.
“Now it’s just a matter of him becoming more consistent.”
Hardy’s improved physical strength should help his consistency as the season moves into the middle and late stages. He’s quick to credit Nebraska strength coach Dave Kennedy.
“Coach Kennedy has his ways,” Hardy said. “If you do everything coach Kennedy tells you to do, you’ll be surprised what can happen to your body.”
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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