Jay Hardy Returning to Auburn After Four Seasons at Liberty
Former Auburn defensive lineman Jay Hardy is coming back to where it all started. Hardy has committed to Auburn for a second time, returning to The Plains for his final season of college football after spending the last four years at Liberty.
Hardy initially joined Auburn in 2020 but redshirted his freshman year, making his debut in the Citrus Bowl against Northwestern. Although he began his collegiate journey with the Tigers, this return is more about reuniting with familiar coaches.
Following the 2020 season, Hardy transferred to Liberty, where he played under then-head coach Hugh Freeze. Now that Freeze is leading Auburn, along with several of his former Liberty staffers, Hardy’s decision to return is influenced by those strong connections.
At Liberty, Hardy, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing 310 pounds, appeared in 34 games over three seasons, after redshirting in 2021. His best season came in 2023 when he tallied 31 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and two sacks across 14 games.
Unlike his first commitment, Hardy’s return to Auburn is smooth and without controversy. Back in 2019, his initial recruitment stirred some confusion when he wasn’t announced during the Early Signing Period, raising speculation about a potential flip to Tennessee. Auburn later confirmed his signing in January 2020.
Now, Hardy is set for a fresh start at Auburn, looking to finish his college career where it began — this time with clarity and experience.
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