Former No. 1 JUCO Prospect in the Nation, Zavion Hardy, Signs with Baylor

"Former number 1"

Absolutely no production in the last year

Not a super encouraging pickup

So...was he hurt?

HE WAS THE FORMER NO. 1.

Shhh, you are asking too many questions. Teddy Bear Dave is cooking.

yes

Bearsalwayswin said:

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yes

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I see no mention of any injury on the SC website linked below. Do you know what the injury was?

https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/football/roster/player/zavion-hardy/

Quote:

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The lone junior college recruit in the December 2024 signing class… spent one season in Columbia… went into the transfer portal following the season.

2025 (Junior)
Enrolled at South Carolina in January and went through spring drills… worked with the scout team in the fall… saw brief action in one game, appearing against Coastal Carolina…did not record any statistics.

2024 (Sophomore)
Spent his second season at East Mississippi C.C. in Scooba, Miss… played for head coach Buddy Stephens… earned first-team All-MACCC honors after helping the Lions to a 5-4 record.

2023 (Freshman)
Totaled 24 tackles including 3.5 sacks in 12 games as a freshman for the Lions… squad posted a 10-3 record, won the Mississippi Association of Community College Conference (MACCC) and reached the NJCAA Division I Football Championship Game.

HIGH SCHOOL
Graduated from Howard High School in Macon, Ga. in 2023… was a two-way player for Macon's Tattnall Square Academy as a junior in 2021, working primarily on the defensive line but also saw time at tight end… totaled 56 tackles and seven sacks, earning All-Region 1A-Private honors… also played basketball.

PERSONAL
Zavion Hardy was born Nov. 29, 2004… is a services management major.

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He is a unicorn, so we got that going for us.

Q&A with Zavion Hardy: 'I'm a unicorn'

Article indicates he needed another year in weight room to adjust to sec from juco. Not surprising. Seems like high ceiling pickup.

Danielsjackson114 said:

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"Former number 1"

Absolutely no production in the last year

Not a super encouraging pickup

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We need both starters and depth, so I'm not going to complain about what is likely a depth move.

Honestly, there's really no reason to overanalyze any of these portal pickups at this point. They'll either pan out or they won't.

My baseline expectation is that we'll suck next season and be hiring a new coach next December. So I'm not going to get worked up about anything in the meantime.

As a Baylor fan, I hope all of these guys are successful and we actually buck the odds and win next season. But that's not my expectation. So I'm not going to scrutinize every portal pickup we make this year. I'll take a wait-and-see approach with all of them.

Ewalker80 said:

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Article indicates he needed another year in weight room to adjust to sec from juco. Not surprising. Seems like high ceiling pickup.

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I don't know how high the ceiling is, but this definitely feels like a lottery ticket type signing. He's probably more of a scratcher than a mega-millions, but it's worth the flyer. I can't imagine he cost a ton, given the fact that he couldn't get on the field last season.

W

bear2be2 said:

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Ewalker80 said:

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Article indicates he needed another year in weight room to adjust to sec from juco. Not surprising. Seems like high ceiling pickup.

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I don't know how high the ceiling is, but this definitely feels like a lottery ticket type signing. He's probably more of a scratcher than a mega-millions, but it's worth the flyer. I can't imagine he cost a ton, given the fact that he couldn't get on the field last season.

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Agreed. Juco tends to be particularly hit or miss. I think it's concerning that he was either hurt all of last year/didn't play for whatever reason. We've taken multiple players with very limited snaps or serious injury that led to missing entire seasons

Youre a clown said:

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bear2be2 said:

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Ewalker80 said:

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Article indicates he needed another year in weight room to adjust to sec from juco. Not surprising. Seems like high ceiling pickup.

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I don't know how high the ceiling is, but this definitely feels like a lottery ticket type signing. He's probably more of a scratcher than a mega-millions, but it's worth the flyer. I can't imagine he cost a ton, given the fact that he couldn't get on the field last season.

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Agreed. Juco tends to be particularly hit or miss. I think it's concerning that he was either hurt all of last year/didn't play for whatever reason. We've taken multiple players with very limited snaps or serious injury that led to missing entire seasons

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As many players as we need in the portal this offseason, some of them are going to be flyers. Obviously, I'd rather those guys have track records of production. But in the absence of production, I'd rather those flyers have been highly thought of at one point than to add guys without potential or production.

But a lot of these guys are likely being added as depth/practice bodies. Any production we actually get out of these guys who are being added on the cheap is likely gravy in a lot of cases.

They aren't all going to be dawgs, most of them won't. You still gotta have depth, special teams guys and potential to develop a guy who has tools but hasn't put it together yet.

Jacques Strap said:

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He is a unicorn, so we got that going for us.

Q&A with Zavion Hardy: 'I'm a unicorn'

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Hilarious read - what a goof ball - this is a wing and a prayer project at best. Love the "former" #1 bs.

Appears we are grasping at straws

So the best picture you can get of this guy is a hands to the face penalty?

I don't disagree with many of the comments, but will withhold judgement until I see this guy play.

He does seem like a high ceiling type of guy that is worth the risk. I know one thing - he's got size - and size you cannot teach.

WA Jim said:

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Jacques Strap said:

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He is a unicorn, so we got that going for us.

Q&A with Zavion Hardy: 'I'm a unicorn'

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Hilarious read - what a goof ball - this is a wing and a prayer project at best. Love the "former" #1 bs.

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The way that the writers here put the green and gold spin on stuff is kind of funny. Have you noticed that every single player is a "rising" defensive end/whatever position. I swear we are going to see a headline that is like BAYLOR LANDS FIRST TEAM (all academic team) SEC PLAYER!

when our "fans" hear the town crier proclaiming any news of Baylor,...

Bearknuckle said:

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when our "fans" hear the town crier proclaiming any news of Baylor,...

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Haha. Actually, if you are referring to me, I've given credit where credit is due the last few weeks. We've gotten two or three commitments so far that look decent, and I've said as much in those threads. However, most of the players that we've taken have been average at best players from the Sunbelt and similar conferences that didn't exactly appear to be high impact players on their teams.

I'm not John Madden, but I know enough about football to know that an average player in the Sunbelt or a player that was hurt all of last season or only played special teams etc. is probably not going to join Dave Aranda's squad in a more competitive conference and suddenly become a dominant force, and that is precisely what we need to avoid having a bad season next year

Youre a clown said:

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Bearknuckle said:

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when our "fans" hear the town crier proclaiming any news of Baylor,...

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Haha. Actually, if you are referring to me, I've given credit where credit is due the last few weeks. We've gotten two or three commitments so far that look decent, and I've said as much in those threads. However, most of the players that we've taken have been average at best players from the Sunbelt and similar conferences that didn't exactly appear to be high impact players on their teams.

I'm not John Madden, but I know enough about football to know that an average player in the Sunbelt or a player that was hurt all of last season or only played special teams etc. is probably not going to join Dave Aranda's squad in a more competitive conference and suddenly become a dominant force, and that is precisely what we need to avoid having a bad season next year

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nah not you...it's just a 'subtweet' of the habit some folks* have developed: the one where people who feel a certain way (Dave needs to be fired, now!) cannot restrain themselves from regurgitating that take in every possible context. Waxing pessimistic about every little bit of Baylor sports related news at this point is funny to me. I think that gif is perfect to represent the dynamic they've got going on.

We have no idea what they're going to pay this kid - he might be a diamond in the rough or just a camp body. Frankly, I don't think his signing is cause for much a reaction, positive or negative, at this point in time.
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*for some of them (at least on Premium) it goes back years, and it would seem that way over here too.

Bearknuckle said:

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Youre a clown said:

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Bearknuckle said:

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when our "fans" hear the town crier proclaiming any news of Baylor,...

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Haha. Actually, if you are referring to me, I've given credit where credit is due the last few weeks. We've gotten two or three commitments so far that look decent, and I've said as much in those threads. However, most of the players that we've taken have been average at best players from the Sunbelt and similar conferences that didn't exactly appear to be high impact players on their teams.

I'm not John Madden, but I know enough about football to know that an average player in the Sunbelt or a player that was hurt all of last season or only played special teams etc. is probably not going to join Dave Aranda's squad in a more competitive conference and suddenly become a dominant force, and that is precisely what we need to avoid having a bad season next year

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nah not you...it's just a 'subtweet' of the habit some folks* have developed: the one where people who feel a certain way (Dave needs to be fired, now!) cannot restrain themselves from regurgitating that take in every possible context. Waxing pessimistic about every little bit of Baylor sports related news at this point is funny to me. I think that gif is perfect to represent the dynamic they've got going on.

We have no idea what they're going to pay this kid - he might be a diamond in the rough or just a camp body. Frankly, I don't think his signing is cause for much a reaction, positive or negative, at this point in time.
___
*for some of them (at least on Premium) it goes back years, and it would seem that way over here too.

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Agree.

It seems like the most valuable transfer players would be the ones that can play (obviously) but who can also quickly pick up a new system. If you are a great DB but blow a lot of coverages in a new system you're not going to help a team. So I hope most of these guys are fast learners and are productive players.

Youre a clown said:

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WA Jim said:

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Jacques Strap said:

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He is a unicorn, so we got that going for us.

Q&A with Zavion Hardy: 'I'm a unicorn'

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Hilarious read - what a goof ball - this is a wing and a prayer project at best. Love the "former" #1 bs.

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The way that the writers here put the green and gold spin on stuff is kind of funny. Have you noticed that every single player is a "rising" defensive end/whatever position. I swear we are going to see a headline that is like BAYLOR LANDS FIRST TEAM (all academic team) SEC PLAYER!

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"Rising" refers to their classification, not their football trajectory. For example, when referring to a player as a "rising Junior," it means they are currently a sophomore, but by the time next football season rolls around, they'll be a junior. I find it to be way more helpful to couch it that way so that we know how much eligibility these incoming guys have left.

Youre a clown said:

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WA Jim said:

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Jacques Strap said:

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He is a unicorn, so we got that going for us.

Q&A with Zavion Hardy: 'I'm a unicorn'

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Hilarious read - what a goof ball - this is a wing and a prayer project at best. Love the "former" #1 bs.

---

The way that the writers here put the green and gold spin on stuff is kind of funny. Have you noticed that every single player is a "rising" defensive end/whatever position. I swear we are going to see a headline that is like BAYLOR LANDS FIRST TEAM (all academic team) SEC PLAYER!

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"Rising" has nothing to do with their potential.

Rising means they will be an upcoming freshman/sophomore/junior/senior/grad but aren't yet.

Out of juco this player could have gone anywhere he wanted. Offers from Alabama and Georgia and Michigan. Obviously has some potential. Another good risk for us.

Bearknuckle said:

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Youre a clown said:

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Bearknuckle said:

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when our "fans" hear the town crier proclaiming any news of Baylor,...

---

Haha. Actually, if you are referring to me, I've given credit where credit is due the last few weeks. We've gotten two or three commitments so far that look decent, and I've said as much in those threads. However, most of the players that we've taken have been average at best players from the Sunbelt and similar conferences that didn't exactly appear to be high impact players on their teams.

I'm not John Madden, but I know enough about football to know that an average player in the Sunbelt or a player that was hurt all of last season or only played special teams etc. is probably not going to join Dave Aranda's squad in a more competitive conference and suddenly become a dominant force, and that is precisely what we need to avoid having a bad season next year

---

nah not you...it's just a 'subtweet' of the habit some folks* have developed: the one where people who feel a certain way (Dave needs to be fired, now!) cannot restrain themselves from regurgitating that take in every possible context. Waxing pessimistic about every little bit of Baylor sports related news at this point is funny to me. I think that gif is perfect to represent the dynamic they've got going on.

We have no idea what they're going to pay this kid - he might be a diamond in the rough or just a camp body. Frankly, I don't think his signing is cause for much a reaction, positive or negative, at this point in time.
___
*for some of them (at least on Premium) it goes back years, and it would seem that way over here too.

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I'm not going to lie. I feel a little bit better about every defensive transfer simply knowing that Dave's not running that unit anymore. I have way more faith in Klanderman's ability to identify under-the-radar talent and fit it to an effective scheme than I did or would watching Dave continue to hump a doorknob on that side of the football.

Beyond feeling that Aranda did a really poor job of developing the talent we got to campus, I just hated his passive-ass "bend-and-break" scheme of soft zones and simulated "pressure."

I actually have some confidence in Klanderman to build a defensive unit out of the guys we're bringing in that won't make me want to off myself every Saturday. Time will tell if that's well-founded or not, but it's better to have some hope than none.