Matt Waldman’s RSP Boiler Room examines Tiffin running back Jaquan Hardy, a high-effort runner with the size, footwork, and physicality to play in the NFL, but can he become a more mature decision-maker? 

James Robinson, Joique Bell, Chris Ivory, Danny Woodhead, Isaiah Crowell, and Fred Jackson are just six backs from the past 10 years that have emerged from small-obscurity to deliver meaningful seasons of production in the NFL.  Could Tiffin’s Jaquan Hardy be next?

The 5’10”, 217-pound runner from Westlake, Ohio has a lot of the desirable traits of an NFL runner. He’s a leg-churning, pile-pushing, stiff-arm-throwing, second-, third, and fourth-effort runner who plays like never heard of the word “quit.”

He also has the hips to slide away from penetrating defenders and the feet to elevate over the sprawling reach of fallen defenders in his wake.  You’ll see a lot of this from Hardy in this Boiler Room episode.

You’ll also see why Hardy must prove that he can mature as a decision-maker. And while this isn’t covered explicitly below, it’s also easy to see that his speed and burst will be traits he must prove he possesses if he gets his shot with a team.

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