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Top six emerge for NC RB

New Bern, N.C. running back Montario Hardesty has nine written offers up to this point and could be receiving as many as five more in the mail in the next few weeks.
With offers from North Carolina, North Carolina State, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Duke, East Carolina, Nebraska, Notre Dame, and Maryland, the talented junior tailback will have plenty of options come decision time.
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“I’m pretty wide open right now, but I do like the grouping of North Carolina, North Carolina State, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Nebraska, and Notre Dame a bit over everyone else,” admitted Hardesty. “Oklahoma, Florida State, Clemson, Tennessee, and Auburn offered me scholarships over the phone, but I’m still waiting to receive them in the mail.”
Hardesty, a 6-foot-0, 190-pound all-purpose back is a threat both in the running game as well as a receiver out of the backfield. All of the schools that have offered him to this point want him to play running back except for North Carolina State who likes him as a safety. The rising senior rushed for 1,987 yards last season and nineteen touchdowns as well as hauling in thirteen receptions for 307 yards and a pair of scores.
“I’ve got good hands coming out of the backfield, but my strength is vision and my speed. I’m really good at following my blocks and exploding through the hole,” explained Hardesty. “I need to improve my pass blocking, but outside of that, I feel pretty good with my progress.”
An all-conference, all-area, and honorable mention all-state selection as a junior, Hardesty just wants to find a college program that he feels comfortable with and that is dedicated to winning above all else.
“State is a program on the rise that has invested a lot in improving their facilities. The same can be said for Maryland,” Hardesty explained. “Virginia Tech and Nebraska are both programs known for producing talented backs and Notre Dame is just simply Notre Dame. There is a lot of tradition that comes with Notre Dame that I like. I like the Tar Heels mostly because they are an in-state program that is making strides in getting to where some of the other programs are right now.”
Hardesty plans to camp at North Carolina, North Carolina State, and East Carolina this summer. Other trips may be added and may include Clemson and Florida State.
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