NC Running Back Holds 19 Offers

by TigerNet Staff - Mon Aug 16 22:26:10 GMT-04:00 2004

Montario Hardesty - Running Back
Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 Hometown: New Bern, NC (New Bern HS) Class: 2005

ESPN: NR

Montario Hardesty is one the top running backs in the Carolinas this year. He has received 19 offers, and has several other big time programs very close to offering.

"I have received offers from the whole ACC, except Clemson, Miami, and Boston College. Tennesee, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Notre Dame have also offered. Clemson, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Ohio St. are all close to offering."

Coaches are not able to call players until September 1. The first week of September, Hardesty expects his process to become clearer.

"That first week in September, I am going to try and get in touch with a lot of coaches and see where I stand. I will at least cut it down to ten."

This summer Hardesty attended camps at North Carolina and NC State. He also took an unofficial visit to South Carolina.

"The camps went alright. I liked both camps. I enjoyed meeting and talking with all the coaches. I had a track meet down in Columbia, so I took an unofficial visit to South Carolina. I toured the campus and met with the coaches. I liked the campus."

Hardesty is a very gifted back. He is a versatile threat coming out of the backfield.

"My speed and vision are my biggest strengths. I run like a 4.3 forty. My vision is very good, sometimes I can feel the hole opening before it is there."

New Bern has already had one scrimmage against a small school in which they crushed. This week they have a scrimmage against Independence, who they have lost to two straight years in the State Championship game.

"Chris Leak put a drive together the first year that they beat us. Last year, we just did not play well at all. They have some good players in (Mohammed) Massaquoi and (Joe) Cox. I feel we match up very well with them, because we have a very good team coming back this year. This is only the beginning, we are on a collision course to meet them in State again this year."

Keep an eye out for a report from the New Bern/Independence scrimmage later this week.