NFL Drafts Former West High Graduate

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted former West High School graduate Daniel Hardy Jr in the seventh round this weekend.

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By Corey Allen-Young

Story Created: May 4, 2011 at 10:01 AM AKDT

Story Updated: May 4, 2011 at 10:43 AM AKDT

Another athlete joins the ranks of Alaska’s elite club who will get the chance to play in the National Football League.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted former West High School graduate Daniel Hardy Jr in the seventh round this weekend.

For the self-proclaimed “skinny kid” from Anchorage, he said it’s a dream that came true because he never gave up.

Far from skinny now, the 6-foot-4-inch, 250-pound tight end has gone from a walk-on tryout for a college program to possibly suiting up among the NFL's finest.

“She said, ‘this is so and so from the Tampa Buccaneers and we are going to take you as our draft pick,’” said Daniel Hardy Jr.

It’s a dream come true for 23-year-old Hardy whose road to the NFL wasn't the easiest.

He only started playing football as a junior in high school and said getting recruited to a college was difficult.

“We basically just did the cut-and-edit style of our old VHS tapes and put a highlight tape together,” said Hardy.

Coaches at the University of Idaho caught wind of his skills and offered him a walk-on opportunity that turned into a full-ride scholarship.

“I always wanted to play at the highest level and I felt in my heart that I would be able to earn a scholarship one day, so I wanted to take the challenge,” said Hardy.

The newly-drafted athlete said he gets “chills” just thinking about the call that he had been drafted. “It’s an emotional time for sure. I was just so humbled that they thought enough of me to get an opportunity to want to draft me because I'm just a kid from Anchorage, Alaska,” said Hardy.

His father, Daniel Hardy Sr, said his son “always had the ability but it’s the drive that I think separates him from a lot of athletes.”

“I'm really thankful that God gave me this opportunity and I'm looking forward to,” said Daniel Hardy Jr.

Through his blood, sweat, and tears, he hopes his dream of playing football on Sundays will be a reality.

“You can get cut quick. My foot is in the door but I don't want to rest on my laurels…if anything, I want to go even harder now because I'm doing this as a job now,” said Hardy.

A very humble young man, Daniel Hardy Jr credits his success to his parents and coaches. He said heeding their advice and paying attention kept him focused in doing the right things to get to where he is today.

And while his dad says he's proud of his athletic accomplishments, he's most happy that his son earned his college degree in communications this past December.

Daniel hardy Jr is the eleventh Alaskan to play in the NFL.

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Anonymous said on Thursday, May 5 at 11:18 AM

To Mike D. He's a former West High School graduate because he is now a Univ. of Idaho graduate, so former graduate implies hes receiver higher education....

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Mike D said on Wednesday, May 4 at 4:50 PM

How can you be a "former graduate"?

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