“Just make the first guy miss,” Daequan Hardy said on Saturday following a program record two punt return touchdowns. On an afternoon that ideally wasn’t going to be full of much news or drama, Hardy provided a soggy stadium of fans with two electric punt return touchdowns: the first a 56-yard return down the home sideline in the first quarter; the second a 68-yard return in the third quarter to give the Nittany Lions a 49-0 lead en route to an eventual 63-0 win over UMass.
Hardy was a bit of a wrinkle in Penn State’s special teams unit, replacing Kaden Saunders who had taken over the role the previous five games. Saunders himself had been fairly reliable with the job but had yet to break a return of note. Of course there might be something to be said for UMass’ own coverage unit, Saunders would get two returns of his own later in the game, breaking a 36-yard scamper which was his best effort of the year. Whether or not Saunders was motivated by the prospect of losing his job or simply another benefactor of UMass’ outgunned roster is hard to say.
Nevertheless the change seemingly sparked something in a special teams unit that has been otherwise unthreatening in the return game. Then again as punters become more and more capable of booming long punts, the harder it has become for returners to get the ball in favorable situations. All the same, heading into Ohio State week Penn State coach James Franklin opted for a change, and it certainly put something on film for the Buckeyes to watch.
“Here’s a guy – talk about opportunities – a high school guy trying to create opportunities to go to college, college guys trying to create opportunities for certain roles, whatever it may be. [Hardy is] the perfect example. Him and Kaden went into a competition all summer camp with catching punts and returning punts. They battled back and forth. Kaden had done a nice job of catching the ball all year long.”
“But we weren’t very explosive or making a ton of yardage. That’s no knock on Kaden, he was doing a nice job, but we’re looking to try to create some more big plays not just on offense, but special teams as well. Kickoff return and punt return as well. Catch percentage at practice was similar. So, we wanted to get [Hardy] some opportunities and some reps and obviously he did a did a phenomenal job. So, we got two guys we feel like we can win with but he obviously showed tonight that he could be special.”
Hardy was special on Saturday, and his 68-yard return is the longest since Jahan Dotson went for 81-yards in 2020 against Michigan State. It might best illustrate the changing role in returners, or at least the likelihood of massive returns that of Penn State’s Top 20 longest punt returns in program history – which spans a distance of 73 yards or more – only four of them have happened since 2000.”
Once I got past the first line I kind of just kept running,” Hardy said. “I realized I could go all the way and it felt really good.”
Can’t argue with that.
