Originally posted by MadDog49er:
Originally posted by OnTheClock:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4645940
Quote:
Ole Miss senior defensive end Greg Hardy may finish his college career on the sideline.
Hardy has a broken wrist and is expected to miss the remainder of the season, Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt told reporters prior to practice Wednesday.
Hardy leads the Rebels with five sacks this season and has 26.5 for his career, but he's never been able to stay completely healthy. He played in only nine games last season and was limited by a stress fracture in his foot.
After thinking about turning pro, Hardy returned for his senior season and underwent offseason surgery on his foot. But he hurt his ankle in the opener against Memphis this season and hasn't been 100 percent. He's been used primarily on passing downs this season.
Ole Miss faces Tennessee at home on Saturday.
Injuries, durability questions, and a decrease in productivity are going to hurt him. Five sacks is very low for someone considered to be a first round prospect. I see him making a significant slide because of these factors.
I don't see much of a slide at all. You know he's going to post some terrific numbers at the combine and campus workout, probably running in the 4.5's. As the most athletic DE/OLB in the draft, someone is going to bite in the first half of the first round.
That being said, I am not a big fan.
I guess I should say when I use the words "significant," I'm guessing an 8-10 pick slide out of the top 10. The earliest I see him going at this point is the 15-18 range. So, the first half is still feasible, but I think it'd be just barely inside the first half of the first round, if it did happen. Running anywhere in the 4.5's at 260+ is incredibly rare, so if he managed that I could see it.
I think if it was a one-time injury, it would be less of a concern, but over the course of his career he's suffered a crazy amount of injuries.
2007: Missed two games due to injury.
2008: Had surgery on the fifth metatarsal of his left foot.
2009: Foot still not healed. Injures ankle in season opener. Then injures arm. Then reaggrevates injury, breaking wrist, out for the year.
Hardy has actually never made it through a full season without injury.