2018 DE Dorian Hardy on New Scholarship Offers: 'I Was Speechless'

Given that he’s getting ready to play his junior year at St. Joseph’s Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey, defensive end Dorian Hardy is still getting used to the attention that has come his way as his offer list continues to expand.

The 6’5”, 245-pounder has already landed more than 10 offers, but a pair of football titans from the SEC came calling for him earlier this week, as both Alabama and Florida offered the Garden State pass-rusher.

Needless to say, those tenders caught Hardy off guard.

“I would’ve never thought I’d get two huge schools in the SEC to offer me this early in my career. I was speechless,” Hardy told Bleacher Report.

In particular, the tender from the defending national champions was a thrill, since he admittedly grew up a fan of the Crimson Tide.

“I was just surprised because I never expected to get an Alabama offer this early at this point in my high school football career," Hardy said. "It meant a lot to me. I was very excited and humbled, but I have a lot of work left to do. My family has always been huge Alabama fans. My dad has a lot of family in Alabama. With all of them being fans and him being a fan, it kind of made me become one growing up.”

Tide offensive line coach Mario Cristobal delivered the good news to him. While they didn’t specify which position they were offering him for, Hardy believes it was as a defensive end, since that’s the position he’s got film on.

The offer from the Gators was unexpected, since he’s never been in contact with head coach Jim McElwain or his staff.

“When I got Florida, it was surprising because I’ve never talked with Florida before that. Just getting it, I can’t even explain it. I was shocked,” Hardy said.

Illinois also offered Hardy this week. According to Adam Friedman of Rivals, LSU and Miami followed suit, which brings his total number of offers to 18. 

Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina and Virginia Tech are among the other programs that have offered Hardy in recent months.

Hardy maintains that there are a few programs he’s stayed in touch with on a regular basis.

“I’ve been in contact with Rutgers, Temple, Nebraska, Wisconsin and North Carolina," he said. "Really, it’s been all of the schools who have offered me. I try to stay in touch with them."

While he’s in no hurry to make a decision, his next order of business is to take visits to see most of the programs that have already declared interest in him.

“On May 20, I will be visiting Michigan and Michigan State. During the summer, me, my mom and my head coach plan to go visit most of the schools who have offered me,” Hardy said. “I don’t have set dates for those yet, but I want to try my best to see every one if possible. I want to see all of those schools who have offered.”

Hardy, who reports a GPA of “around 3.4,” said he’s yet to make concrete plans on what he wants to major in on the college level—although oceanography and sports management are two fields that intrigue him.

For the athletic big man, who also plays power forward for his school’s hoops program, there are a few things he will be looking for when taking visits and speaking with coaches in the coming months.

“I want to go to a school where they can compete for a national championship or a big bowl game every year," Hardy said. "I want that program to be a top team every year. Other than that, just a place where I will feel comfortable and where the coaches value me. I just want to go to a place that feels like home.”

Sanjay Kirpalani is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand and all recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow @SanjayKirpalani