Local Sports
JUSTIN GRAVES: Hardman shows that small-school recruits can make it in the big-time
By Justin GravesEven with a boot on his leg, Trett Hardman managed to catch the attention of a few recruiting experts.
Because of an ankle injury sustained during a basketball game over the holiday break, Hardman was unable to participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl’s underclassmen combine. But apparently the Fairview High standout quarterback didn’t have to.
Hardman was invited to the San Antonio-based event for a reason: The kid is one of Alabama’s top quarterback prospects in the 2010 recruiting class.
That’s why Scout.com recognized the Aggies junior on it’s Army All-Combine Team, despite not taking part in the actual combine.
According to Scout.com, Hardman was a player that caught the recruiting site’s attention. And considering that 500 of the country’s top underclassmen were invited to participate in the combine, that’s quite impressive.
Actually, just getting to make the trip to San Antonio for the All-American Bowl activities was an honor for Hardman — who has been named first-team All-State by the Alabama Sports Writers Association two years in a row.
The recruiting process and all the activities that go along with being one of the state’s top prospects is nothing new to Hardman. He’s been visiting colleges and attending combines for over a year now.
And whatever the Aggies quarterback is doing is apparently working.
Despite playing only one postseason game in his career, Hardman is still one of the state’s most well-known quarterbacks.
Not bad for a kid from a rural community that plays for a Class 4A football program, huh?
Yes, it’s true: Hardman plays football at Fairview, which is not considered one of the state’s big-boy, big-time programs. But that hasn’t stopped the Aggies quarterback from catching the attention of some of the big-time college programs in the Southeast.
It’s difficult to not notice Hardman. Physically, he has what it takes to play quarterback at the next level. After all, he’s 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, has good feet and an even better arm.
Hardman has also taken care of business on the field, throwing for over 3,300 yards with 37 touchdowns in 11 games. He also threw for over 2,000 yards as a sophomore.
What Hardman has done at Fairview pretty much kills the ol’ small school stigma that is constantly discussed — especially in this part of the state. You know, the one that says that only players from big-school programs get noticed by the big-time Division I programs.
Nevermind the fact that some of the greatest players to ever step on the field at Alabama and Auburn came from some of the smallest high schools in the state. For some reason, there’s a misconception about athletes from smaller schools.
Right now, Hardman is proving that theory wrong. And if the Aggies quarterback signs with a Division I program — which I fully expect him to do — it will help quiet the naysayers. Or at least it will in this part of the state.
‰ Justin Graves’ column runs on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Contact him by phone at 734-2131, ext. 257.
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