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NFL CAREER: This former Illinois wide receiver transitioned to defensive back after joining the Saints practice squad prior to the 2017 season. Since being promoted to the active roster, Hardee’s developed into a special teams ace for club appearing in 30 games and four postseason contests over the last two seasons, posting nine solo tackles, his first career interception with a 77-yard return, two passes defensed, a team-leading 19 special teams stops over that period and a blocked punt he recovered for a touchdown. Heading into the 2019 season, Hardee looks to continue to make strides with his coverage skills, while continuing to be a significant special teams contributor.

NFL CAREER: This former Illinois wide receiver transitioned to defensive back after joining the Saints practice squad prior to the 2017 season. Since being promoted to the active roster, Hardee’s developed into a special teams ace for club appearing in 30 games and four postseason contests over the last two seasons, posting nine solo tackles, his first career interception with a 77-yard return, two passes defensed, a team-leading 19 special teams stops over that period and a blocked punt he recovered for a touchdown. Heading into the 2019 season, Hardee looks to continue to make strides with his coverage skills, while continuing to be a significant special teams contributor. 

TRANSACTIONS – Signed by Saints to active roster, 9/23/17; Signed by Saints to practice squad, 9/7/17; Waived by Texans, 9/2/17; Signed by Texans, 5/12/17.

HONORS – 2011: NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week Eight).

2018- Played in all 16 regular season games and both postseason contests tallying nine solo tackles, his first career interception returned for 77 yards, two passes defensed and a career-high and team-leading 10 special teams stops…Vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 9, recorded two special teams tackles…Vs. Cleveland, Sept. 16, recorded one special teams tackle…At Atlanta, Sept. 23, recorded an assisted special teams tackle…At N.Y. Giants, Sept. 30, caught a ten-yard pass from Taysom Hill on a fake punt attempt to convert a first down…Vs. Washington, Oct. 8, played on both defense and special teams, recording career-highs in tackles (four), solo tackles (four), passes defensed (two), and recorded his first career interception, returning it 77 yards…At Minnesota, Oct. 28, played on special teams and recorded three coverage tackles (two solo) to tie a career-high…At Cincinnati, Nov. 11, played on both defense and special teams, finishing with one solo tackle…Vs. Philadelphia, Nov. 18, recorded one defensive tackle and one special teams tackle…At Dallas, Nov. 29, played on special teams, finishing with one tackle…At Carolina, Dec. 17, played on special teams and recorded his tenth tackle, surpassing his rookie season total…Vs. Carolina, Dec. 30, played on defense and special teams, finishing with three solo tackles…In the NFC Divisional playoff game vs. Philadelphia, 1/13/19, played on special teams…In the NFC Championship vs. L.A. Rams, 1/20/19, played on special teams and recorded a tackle. 2017- Appeared in 14 regular season games and in both postseason contests. In the regular season, he led the team with nine special teams tackles and also blocked a punt that he recovered for a touchdown…Made one coverage stop in the NFC Wild Card Playoff victory at Carolina, 1/7/18…At Carolina, Sept. 24, made his NFL regular season playing debut on special teams…At Miami, Oct. 1, had a special teams tackle…Vs. Detroit, Oct. 15, recorded a career-high three special teams tackles (two solo)…Vs. Chicago, Oct. 29, played on special teams and had one tackle…Vs. Tampa Bay, Nov. 5, played on special teams and blocked a punt that he recovered for a touchdown, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors…At L.A. Rams, Nov. 26, played on special teams and recorded one tackle….Vs. New York Jets, Dec. 17, played on special teams and had a tackle…Vs. Atlanta, Dec. 24, played on special teams and had two solo coverage tackles….At Tampa Bay, Dec. 31, played on special teams and downed a punt at the Buccaneers five-yard line.

COLLEGE: Played wide receiver at Illinois from 2012-16…Started all 12 games as a redshirt senior in 2016 and finished second on team with 314 receiving yards and third with 25 receptions…Career-highs in receptions (9) and receiving yards (125) in season finale at Northwestern…Academic All-Big 10…Played in all 13 games in 2014, starting eight and tallied 19 catches for 240 yards…Caught six passes for 110 yards, including a go-ahead 62-yard touchdown pass with 12:27 left vs. Western Kentucky…In 2013, played in all 12 games with one start…Had 11 catches for 95 yards…In 2012, played in all 12 games, making one start, first of career vs. Louisiana Tech…Had 17 catches for 192 yards…Earned a bachelor’s degree in communication and also has master’s degrees in education and sport management.

PERSONAL: Attended Glenville (Cleveland, Ohio) HS, where he was a teammate of Saints CB Marshon Lattimore and a 2011 third-team Northeast Lakes All-District selection as a senior…Played in Next Level Northeast Ohio All-Star Game…Member of 2009 team that played in Division I state title game…Also ran track at Glenville, winning a 2011 OHSAA State Championship in the 4x400m relay…High school coach was Ted Ginn Sr., the father of Saints WR Ted Ginn Jr…Attended a Touchdown Club of New Orleans dinner in 2017, speaking to members about his journey to the Saints and was the club’s 2017 co-Special Teams Player of the Year...In 2018, participated in Ginn’s youth football camp at Beachwood (Ohio) High School as a counselor…Through his Hardee Cares Foundation, teamed up with Ginn and Lattimore to provide local children with a holiday shopping spree…Hardee’s foundation supports Sarcoidosis awareness, honoring his mother who passed away from the disease,