June 4, 2008
RUSTON - Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley announced Wednesday that former Southern Miss quarterback Randy Hardin has signed a financial aid agreement and will enroll in school this fall.
Hardin, who signed with the Golden Eagles last year and red-shirted in 2007, will sit out this season and then have three years of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot, 195-pound Hardin played for The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Fla. where he registered a stellar senior season, passing for 3,257 yards and 32 touchdowns while only throwing three interceptions. He led his team to a perfect 14-0 mark and the Florida Class 2A state title as a senior while earning first team all-state and all-district honors.
Following his senior season, he was named the Florida Dairy Farmer's Class 2A Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year by the Times Union, a Super 24 selection, and was named the Class 2A State Player of the Year.
Hardin, who finished third in the Mr. Football competition in Florida and was also chosen as a Blue Chip third team All-American, visited the campus this week.
"I just really felt comfortable with Coach Dooley and Coach Scelfo," Hardin said. "I had a great visit and really enjoyed the family-type atmosphere. I hung out with some of the guys, and they all seemed like a tight-knit group. I really felt the family vibe. I think I can contribute with the offense they run, and that I fit their style. I'm looking forward to coming at Tech."
Hardin, who played as a freshman and sophomore at Rutherford High School, registered career high school totals of 7,463 yards passing and 76 touchdowns with only 18 interceptions.
He was a three-star recruit by SuperPrep.com coming out of high school and ranked as the 72nd best quarterback by Scout.com and the 85th best quarterback by ESPN.com.
His father Steve played football at Florida State and his brother Matt played quarterback at Jacksonville State.
Randy Hardin 6-0, 195 Jacksonville, Fla. (The Bolles School)
USM: Red-shirt ... High School: Played for Coach Corky Rogers as a two-year letterwinner at The Bolles School ... Finished senior season with 3,257 total yards for 32 touchdowns and only three interceptions ... Played freshman and sophomore seasons at Rutherford HS ... Career totals include 7,463 yards for 76 touchdowns and 18 interceptions ... Completed 69.0 percent of passes during senior season ... Helped lead team to 14-0 finish and State 2A Championship title ... First team all-district and all-state ... Named Florida Dairy Farmer's Class 2A Player of the Year as a senior ... Named Offensive Player of the Year by the Times Union ... Chosen to Sportswriters All-State first team ... A Super 24 selection ... Named 2A State Player of the Year ... Finished 3rd in Mr. Football competition in Florida ... Chosen as a Blue Chip Third-Team All-American ... Named 5A Sophomore of the Year ... Finished in all-time Top 10 in passing yardage and touchdown passes for the state of Florida ... Three-star rating by SuperPrep.com ... Two-star rating by Scout.com ... Two-star rating by rivals.com ... Two-star rating by MagnoliaPreps.com ... No. 72 quarterback nationally by Scout.com ... No. 85 quarterback nationally by ESPN.com ... Also lettered in baseball ... An All-Bay County selection for baseball as a sophomore ... Personal: Son of Steve and Mary Hardin ... Father played football at Florida State and was head football coach at Rutherford HS ... Brother Matt Hardin is the quarterback at Jacksonville State ... Born Jan. 23, 1989.
