Mecole Hardman

Position:
WR
Height:
5-11
Weight:
183
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Bowman, Ga.
High School:
Elbert County

* 2018 ESPN.com All-America First Team (kick returner) *
* 2018 SI.com All-America Second Team (kick returner) *
* 2018 AP & Coaches' All-SEC 2nd Team *

Career Highs:
* 103 receiving yards at South Carolina, 2018
* 6 receptions at South Carolina, 2018
* Long reception of 80 yards vs. Alabama, 2018
* Long rush of 35 yards vs. Missouri, 2017
* Long punt return of 70 yards vs. Middle Tenn. State, 2018
* Long KO return of 47 yards vs. Auburn1, 2017

2018: Started five of 14 games...Georgia’s second-leading receiver, with 34 catches for 532 yards and seven TDs...stellar kick returner, despite falling just short of minimum qualification standards (1.2 returns per game) for NCAA rankings...would have ranked 2nd nationally, first in SEC, in punt returns at 20.1 yards/return...one of two winners of the Kevin Butler Special Teams Award at the team's post-season awards gala...had his only career punt return TD vs. Middle Tennessee State, a 70-yarder in the second quarter...had a 65-yard punt return vs. Kentucky that led to Georgia’s first score of the game...season-long kickoff return of 41 yards came vs. Auburn...also caught a 32-yard pass in that game...caught a team-high six passes for 103 yards (both career highs) and 1 TD vs. South Carolina...also had a 30-yard rush on a lateral play vs. the Gamecocks...caught one pass vs. Ga. Tech, a 44-yard TD...team-best three catches vs. UMass for 68 yards, including a 57-yard TD reception...caught two passes vs. Austin Peay, including a 59-yarder for a TD...had 180 all-purpose yards in win at Missouri that included a 54-yard TD catch and a 23-yard punt return...100 all-purpose yards vs. Alabama (21 rec., 63 KOR, 16 PR)...named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll.
2017: Played in 15 games, making one start...finished season with 25 catches for 418 yards and 6 TDs (4 rec., 2 rush)...also had 1255 all-purpose yards, including season-high 203 vs. Auburn1...scored both of Georgia's touchdowns vs. Alabama in the CFP Championship Game: a 1-yard rush and an 80-yard pass...named the Vince Dooley Special Teams MVP at the team’s post-season awards gala...ranked 8th nationally in punt returns (first in the SEC) at 11.8 yards and 21st in KO returns (2nd in the SEC) at 25.3 yards...matched a season-high with four receptions in the SEC Championship game for 67 yards...reeled in one 15-yard reception in the Rose Bowl...hauled in his first career touchdown from Jake Fromm to put Georgia up 7-0 in the first quarter against Samford...scored two TDs -- one rushing and one receiving -- vs. Missouri...caught three passes for 51 yards at Georgia Tech, including a 39-yarder that set up the Bulldogs’ third TD of the day...made first career start at wide receiver at Notre Dame and hauled in a team-high four receptions for 27 yards in the win against the Irish...had one catch for eight yards in debut at wide receiver against Appalachian State...named to the 2017 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll...moved from DB to WR for spring drills...caught three passes for 62 yards for the victorious Red team in G-Day spring game.
2016: Appeared in 11 games...Saw his first playing time at Mizzou...had special teams tackles in four games...two stops each vs. Florida and Louisiana...also saw action on kickoff return unit vs. Kentucky, Auburn and Louisiana...returned one kickoff 17 yards vs. the Ragin' Cajuns.
High School: Elbert County, coached by Sid Fritts … Selected to represent the East in the 2016 U.S. Army All-America Bowl…..scored a TD in the 2016 International Bowl vs. Canada….American Family Insurance 2015 USA Today All-USA Second Team defense … PrepStar Magazine five-star prospect, #26 player nationally on the Top 150 Dream Team … ESPN.com four-star prospect, #48 player nationally, #2 ATH nationally, #5 player in the state of Georgia … 247Sports.com five-star prospect, #13 player nationally, #1 ATH nationally, #2 player in the state of Georgia … Rivals.com five-star prospect, #11 player nationally, #2 ATH nationally, #2 player in the state of Georgia … Scout five-star prospect, #16 overall prospect and, #2 ATH nationally … Dawg Post #1 ATH and #2 overall player in the state of Georgia … 2015 Georgia Sports Writers Association Class AAA Offensive Player of the Year … 2015 Georgia Sports Writers Association Class AAA First Team offense … 2015 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 in Georgia and Class AAA All-State offense … Played both quarterback and defensive back in high school, leading Elbert County to an 11-3 record and a trip to the quarterfinals of the 2015 GHSA Class AAA playoffs.
Personal: CAREY MECOLE HARDMAN…major: Sport Management...recipient of the Ken and Jody Jackson Family Football Scholarship, as well as the James G. Minter and Michael J. Faherty Football Scholarship.