Jaydan Hardy becoming a key rotation player in OU's secondary, special teams
NORMAN — For Jaydan Hardy, there’s an appreciation that comes with playing on special teams.
During last Saturday’s 23-21 win over Alabama, Jaydan Hardy came up with one of the biggest plays of the game. And it came on special teams.
With the Sooners leading 10-7 in the second quarter, the offense went three-and-out and was forced to punt. Grayson Miller punted the ball away, and Hardy punched the ball loose from Ryan Williams during the return. The fumble was recovered by Sammy Omosigho.
Two plays later, John Mateer scored on a 20-yard rush that gave the Sooners a 10-point lead.
That was one of three forced turnovers for the Sooners, and it came at a pivotal time.
“I’ve learned being a high schooler and now in college to just play for that senior that doesn’t have another year, doesn’t have that opportunity to play in front of the fans again,” Hardy told OUInsider Monday,” (or) play at ‘Bama that one last time. Never know the impactful play you could have. The memory that could impact a senior, who it might be their last chance. That is what I am out there thinking about for those older guys who won’t be able to go out there and get a chance to do it.”
That mindset helped Hardy earn an early role on special teams, and it’s helped him carve out a spot on defense, too.
The sophomore played 230 special teams snaps last year as a freshman, but couldn’t break into the safety rotation. This season, Hardy has continued his special teams role while also earning a consistent spot on defense. He’s played in every SEC game on defense and has played at least 10 snaps each of the last five weeks, recording 10 tackles and an interception.
“(I’ve) grown a lot mentally here,” Hardy said. “That’s what (OU coach Brent Venables) does. Physically, just challenge us. (OU strength coach Jerry Schmidt) challenges us in the weight room every single day. That’s one thing big for me, trying to get bigger. The mental part of practice. It’s hard, not easy. Not easy going 20 periods on Tuesday every single week. Not a lot of schools are doing that.
“Getting that mental toughness to go fight through so that the games are easier than the practices.”
Venables has seen that growth from Hardy.
“Super high-level football intelligence,” Venables said of Hardy. “Very competitive. I think he’s instinctively a really good, natural football player. He obviously bought into the message, and not that it was just a last-week thing… That play was a huge play where he pops the ball out. But he’s, through both success and some failure, has really become a reliable role player for us this year with a great future sitting right in front of him.”
Hardy’s become one of the second-year players that’s seen a bigger role on defense, including David Stone, Michael Boganowski and Reggie Powers. That depth is a big reason why the Sooners sit at 8-2 with defensive and special team units that rank among the best in the country.
The Sooners are going to need Hardy to keep it up.
“(He’s) a guy that took things personally,” Venables said. “And (OU safeties coach Brandon Hall can) better testify to some of that. But really, I think he played around 30 plays. Half of them were on special teams. (He) was a guy we talked about in front of the team on Monday, that in this role, this opportunity to impact and influence the game only happens when somebody buys into that role and they’re prepared. Him off the bench or to be a special teams player and take it (as) I’m a starting football player in the SEC on one of the best programs in the country.
“And so the detail, the precision, the preparedness, is very real. And proud of him. And, huge play. One of the top four or five plays in that game that impacted the outcome.”