Indiana University Athletics
Hardy Named Semifinalist for Biletnikoff Award
11/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 5, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana junior wide receiver James Hardy has been named one of 12 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to the nation's outstanding receiver. The Biletnikoff Award is named for College and Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Fred Biletnikoff and is presented by the Tallahassee (Fla.) Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc.
Indiana's all-time receiving TDs leader has 881 yards (sixth IU single season), 57 receptions (fourth), 15.5 yards per reception and 13 touchdowns (tied for first) this season. Hardy is second nationally and leads all Big Ten wideouts with his 13 scores and is on the brink of becoming the Hoosiers' all-time leader in receptions and receiving yardage, sitting one reception and 28 yards behind Courtney Roby in both categories.
The Fort Wayne, Ind., native is the only receiver in Indiana history to surpass 2,000 career yards (2,496 - second all-time), 150 career receptions (169 - second all-time) and 30 career touchdowns (33 - first all-time). On the season, he sits third in the Big Ten averaging 88.1 yards per game (22nd nationally), is sixth with 5.70 receptions per game and is ninth in scoring (7.8).
Four of the semifinalists reside in the Big Ten, as Purdue's Dorien Bryant, Michigan's Mario Manningham and Ohio State's Brian Robiskie join Hardy. Three finalists will be selected in November and the winner will be announced on the ESPN College Awards Show on Dec. 6.
2007 Biletnikoff Award Semifinalists
Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt
Dorien Bryant, Purdue
Keenan Burton, Kentucky
Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
Harry Douglas, Louisville
James Hardy, Indiana
Percy Harvin, Florida
DeSean Jackson, California
Mario Manningham, Michigan
Jordy Nelson, Kansas State
Brian Robiskie, Ohio State
Chris Williams, New Mexico State
