Elon TE transfer Cody Hardy commits to NC State

NC State bolstered its tight end room Friday afternoon when Cody Hardy, a transfer from Elon, announced his commitment to the Wolfpack. The program went into this portal cycle looking to add depth to that room and landed a prospect who received significant SEC interest.

Hardy is a 6-5, 271-pound tight end from Monroe, North Carolina. He spent the past three seasons at the FCS level before hitting the portal Dec. 9 with one season of eligibility remaining. The rising senior is a traditional in-line tight end who will complement returning Justin Joly’s skill set in the slot.

Auburn, Oklahoma State and plenty more Power Four programs prioritized Hardy over the past couple of weeks. Illinois, Mississippi State, Houston, Memphis and Cincinnati all offered him as well.

He visited both the Tigers and the Cowboys before spending Wednesday in Raleigh. That trip went well, and he pledged to the Pack staff Friday.

During his junior season with the Phoenix, Hardy caught 6 passes for 36 yards and one touchdown. The year prior, he hauled in 4 receptions for 27 yards and took 2 carries 8 yards. Hardy started 10 games this fall, playing 437 snaps while recording a 53.4 Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade.

The tight end will compete to play a significant role as an in-line blocking tight end in NC State’s offense. He logged a 63.2 PFF grade as a run blocker as a junior, finishing 3 games with marks above 75.0. Elon targeted him 10 times for 6 receptions with a 4.2 average depth of target. His longest reception was 15 yards, and he dropped 2 passes.

Hardy lined up in the slot for 24.5 percent of his plays. More than half of his snaps with Elon this fall were in run-blocking situations.

He is the third commitment of the 2024 transfer cycle, joining Utah State tackle Teague Andersen and North Carolina A&T offensive lineman Brock Stukes.