One test away from college greatness, an interview with LB Deontre Hardwick
Much like many high school juniors across the nation Fort Smith Northside High School’s Deontre Hardwick is preparing for the next step of his life, awaiting the results of his first ACT exam. The American College Testing exam is one of the proving grounds all students must conquer before heading off to college.
The one thing that makes Hardwick a little bit different from most is what a qualifying ACT score will bring for him… a multitude of college football scholarship offers.
Hardwick is aptly named being a hard hitting linebacker for the Grizzlies. The 6’1”, 240 pound, talent punished ball carries and wowed college recruiters as a sophomore and then took his game to another level as a junior. In 2013 he racked up 83 tackles, had 11 tackles for a loss, posted one interception, had five pass breakups, forced two fumbles, and had one fumble recovery turning that into a touchdown.
In 2014 he left little on the field for his teammates recording 112 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, one interception, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and, again, picked up that fumble for a score.
Arkansas State and Louisiana Tech have already offered Hardwick but more top Division-I programs are lining up. The one thing, seemingly, holding most of the colleges back from pulling the proverbial trigger on an offer, knowing his ACT score. Arkansas, Alabama, Louisville, LSU, Memphis, and Vanderbilt are among the schools waiting for the results.
Hardwick’s play on the field helped Northside finish the 2014 season with a 10-3, or 10-2 record depending on how one views the vacated North Little Rock contest. The turnaround under new head coach Darrell Henry after a 3-6-1 season under Mike Falleur in 2013 has Grizzlies’ fans thinking a run to the Arkansas state championship game in 2015.
In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, Hardwick took time away from his studies and offseason workouts to rundown the 2014 season, recruiting, and how he is preparing for a highly anticipated senior season in 2015.
Deontre, Northside had a great season in 2014. You guys lost to the eventual state champs Bentonville 29-26, your rival Southside, and in the second round of the playoffs to North Little Rock but essentially steamrolled everyone else on your schedule. Did the team expect to have as a great of as season as they did with a new head coach at the helm?
“We were the underdogs. Some people were worried about us and thought we would be bad. Our mindset was to prove everyone wrong. We got a new coach (Henry). We all had to adjust to him and then we took off. Now everybody knows what to expect from our coach and he knows what to expect from us.”
Can the Grizzlies replicate the same success in 2015?
“I think we will do well and surprise people again. We’ve been putting in a lot of work and we know what to expect. I think we can win state.”
What is the strength of this year’s football team?
“I think we have really good chemistry. We don’t get down on each other, we’re there lifting each other up everyday.”
What are your strengths on the field?
“My strengths at linebacker are getting to the ball and trying to take the guy’s head off.”
(Laughing) Well said. For those readers out there who have never seen you play describe your play on the field.
“I’m like an all around linebacker. I’m more of a bridge to stop the run type of guy. I like to catch guys in the open field – I’m just an all around linebacker. Some guys don’t expect me to be that fast. They think they can out run me because of my size but they can’t.”
What are your goals for the 2015 football season?
“My goals are to be more of a leader to my teammates, especially the younger guys coming up, and not to let any of my family, coaches, or teammates down.”
What kind of stat line do you want to put up this year?
“I want to lead the state in tackles.”
Will Coach Falleuer utilize your athleticism at another position on the field? Could we see you line up at fullback and head hunt from the other side?
“I’ve been working some with the running backs. I might be running some like on short yardage downs.”
With your speed and size a short yardage down should be 1st and 10, 2nd and 10, and on down the line.
(Laughs)
You had a great sophomore season and posted even better numbers as a junior, what are your thoughts on how well you played in 2014?
“I think I played well but I can play better.”
Did you earn any individual honors at the end of last year?
“I was All-State First-Team, trying to think. I was 7A All-State and All-Conference too. I can’t remember any of the other honors right now.”
You have offers from Arkansas State and Louisiana Tech with interest from Alabama, Arkansas, Louisville, LSU, Memphis, and Vanderbilt. Are any other schools coming after you right now?
“Tennessee and Texas have been coming after me pretty hard lately. I’ve been talking to Missouri State’s linebacker coach (Peter Badovinac) a lot lately.”
What type of feedback have you received from these colleges?
“Most of them like how physical I play and how well I can get to the ball.”
Have you taken any unofficial visits yet?
“I’ve taken a few. I’ve been to Arkansas a few times and I went to the Alabama (visitor of the Crimson Tide) vs. Auburn game, I went to the Mississippi State vs. Arkansas (visitor of the Hogs) game, and I went to OSU (visitor of Oklahoma State) vs. FSU game.”
How did your visit to the Arkansas campus go?
“I love Arkansas. It’s like a home away from home. That’s what it feels like. I have a teammate there (Class of 2015 signee, DE Daytrieon Dean), it’s pretty cool.”
Since Arkansas has been in touch with you as a recruit where is everything with the Razorbacks right now?
“They want me to camp there again this summer. Most importantly, I’ve been lacking some, but now I’m back up to where I need to be now. I took my first ACT the other day. I’m waiting on that. Everything is going good. I was lazy early in the year. I was on the lazy train.”
Now that everything is back up to par and you’re awaiting the results of your ACT do you think an offer is coming around the corner from the Hogs?
“We honestly have not discussed the offer stage. I have not talk to Coach Lunney (Tight Ends Coach) and Coach B (Head Coach Bret Bielema) about that yet. We just talk. They have a new linebackers coach (Vernon Hargreaves), I have not met me him yet.”
Are you going to any college camps over the summer?
“I’m going to OSU (Oklahoma State), Arkansas, and Ole Miss. I’m going to try to make it to LSU, try to make it to Missouri, and try to make it to Louisiana Tech and Arkansas State too.”
After hitting up all of these camps do you anticipate more offers to come your way?
“I really don’t worry about offers. I just worry about coming in and showing them my work ethic. Whatever happens from there happens.”
Do you have a list of favorites?
“I don’t have a list of favorites. I have a list of schools I like but I can’t tell you the list.”
(Laughing) Well played sir. When the time comes to make a decision on where you want to play your college ball what will influence that decision?
“It’s probably going to be both of my grandmas, my mom, and my sister influencing me. They help me out and tell me things. They’ll have a big influence on where I choose to go to school.”
What do you think will influence them on how to influence you on where to go to school?
“The major I like, how far away the school is, and do I have family there. They don’t want me to be too far away from home and not know people.”
What are you doing in the offseason to prepare for the college camps and your senior year?
“I’m working out two times a day, in the morning at 6:30 and at the end of school at 2:30. We have a trainer in the morning then our school workout. We power clean and squat then. The days we don’t run I go do sprints. There’s a big field behind my house. I’ll do ladders with our DB coach, Coach Curry. We work on agility and flex running.”
Have you maxed out lately or run the 40?
“I maxed out at 305 on the bench, squatted 455, and ran a 4.6 the last time we tested.”
Who has made the biggest impact on your football career?
“My family of course, they’re always there through good and bad. They’re always going to help me get better as a person and as a player.”
No matter where Hardwick ends up playing his college ball he will bring a tremendous skill set along with him. He’s big enough, strong enough, and fast enough to be a SEC middle linebacker. He’s also fast enough to be a strong-side outside linebacker. If he grows another couple of inches Hardwick could also be a dominating defensive end.
The other thing Hardwick has going for him besides a strong work ethic and the physical attributes is his great spirit and personality. He may mistreat running backs on the field but off the field one can tell how influential the women in his life have been. He’s affable, respectful, and jovial. A yes sir, no sir, or yes ma’am, no ma’am kind of guy and a leader of young men.
Written by Ryan Wright
Photo credit: 247sports.com; Deontre Hardwick
Photo credit: arpreps.com; Deontre Hardwick with Coach Mike Falleur