Byron Hardmon Explained

Byron Hardmon
Current Title:Defensive line coach
Current Team:Troy
Current Conference:Sun Belt
Birth Date:7 January 1981
Birth Place:Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Player Years1:1999-2002
Player Team1:Florida
Player Years2:2003
Player Team2:Miami Dolphins
Player Years3:2003
Player Team3:Cologne Centurions
Player Years4:2004
Player Team4:Seattle Seahawks
Player Years5:2005
Player Team5:Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Player Years6:2006-2007
Player Team6:Hamburg Sea Devils
Player Positions:Linebacker
Coach Years1:2008-2011
Coach Team1:Illinois (GA)
Coach Years2:2012
Coach Team2:Charleston Southern (STC/OLB)
Coach Years3:2013-2015
Coach Team3:Idaho (DL)
Coach Years4:2015-present
Coach Team4:Troy (DL)
Championships:
Awards:
  • Second-team All-SEC (2002)

Byron Bernard "Bam" Hardmon (born January 7, 1981) is an American former college and professional football player who was a linebacker. Hardmon played college football for the University of Florida. He signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent, but spent his rookie season on injured reserve. Hardmon subsequently played professional football for the Hamburg Sea Devils in NFL Europa, and in NFL pre-season games with the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Early years

Hardmon was born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1981. Hardmon earned the nickname "Bam Bam" in his youth and it was later shortened to "Bam". He attended Edward H. White High School in Jacksonville, and played high school football for the Ed White Commanders. Hardmon was an all-state and prep All-American who was selected to play in the Georgia-Florida High School All-Star Game at the Georgia Dome in June 1999.[1]

College career

Hardmon received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Steve Spurrier and coach Ron Zook's Florida Gators football teams from 1999 to 2002.[2] He was a mainstay of the Gators' defense from 2000 to 2002, appearing in 12 games for the 2000 team that was ranked No. 10 in the final AP poll, 11 games for the 2001 team that was ranked No. 3 in the final AP poll, and 13 games for the 2002 that was ranked No. 24 in the final Coaches Poll.[3] Prior to his senior year, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel wrote that Hardmon and fellow senior Mike Nattiel "appear to have the talent, the experience and -- finally -- the maturity to lead Florida's defense."[4] Hardmon established himself as a team captain on defense in 2002, as he led the team with 169 tackles and also had two forced fumbles and an interception.[5] At the end of the 2002 season, the USA Today described Hardmon and Nattiel as the anchors of the Gators defense.[6] Following his senior season, he received the Gators' Fergie Ferguson Award, recognizing the "senior football player who displays outstanding leadership, character and courage."[2]

Professional career

He was signed by the Miami Dolphins in April 2003,[5] but he spent his rookie season on "injured reserve" status.[7] In the spring of 2004, Hardmon signed with the Hamburg Sea Devils in the NFL Europa.[7] After playing well in his first season of professional football with Hamburg, he was signed by the Seattle Seahawks in June 2004.[7] Hardmon was released by the Seahawks on September 6, 2004.[7] In 2005, Hardmon signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[7] In 2007, Hardmon was one of the leaders of the Hamburg team that defeated the Frankfurt Galaxy 37–28 in the World Bowl.[8] He was also named Defensive Player of the Week in Week 5 of the 2007 NFL Europa season, after he led Hamburg to a victory over the Amsterdam Admirals with a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown, four tackles, a sack, a quarterback hurry and two pass defenses.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Andy Staples. Future rivals team up for Florida-Georgia prep all-star game. University Wire. June 18, 1999.
  2. 2010 Florida Gators Football Media Guide, Gator History, University Athletic Association, Gainesville, Florida, pp. 145, 146, 151, 167, 185, 196 (2010). Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  3. Web site: Archived Team-By-Team Final Statistics. NCAA.org.
  4. News: Joe Schad. FOLLOW THE LEADERS: BOOKEND 'BACKERS MIKE NATTIEL AND BYRON HARDMON SET THE TONE FOR GATORS' DEFENSE. South Florida Sun - Sentinel. July 28, 2002. https://archive.today/20130131184144/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sun_sentinel/access/143446121.html?dids=143446121:143446121&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+28,+2002&author=Joe+Schad++Gainesville+Bureau&pub=South+Florida+Sun+-+Sentinel&desc=FOLLOW+THE+LEADERS+;+BOOKEND+'BACKERS+MIKE+NATTIEL+AND+BYRON+HARDMON+SET+THE+TONE+FOR+GATORS'+DEFENSE.&pqatl=google. dead. January 31, 2013.
  5. News: UF LINEBACKER HARDMON AMONG 12 SIGNEES. The Miami Herald. April 29, 2003. 3D.
  6. News: Eddie Timanus. College football weekend preview. USA Today. November 29, 2002. C.10. https://web.archive.org/web/20121104112722/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/247609061.html?dids=247609061:247609061&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Nov+29,+2002&author=Eddie+Timanus&pub=USA+TODAY&desc=College+football+weekend+preview&pqatl=google. dead. November 4, 2012.
  7. News: Former Gator Hardmon Signs With Tampa Bay. Gainesville Sun. April 6, 2005.
  8. News: Die World- Bowl-Sieger sind abgetaucht. Hamburger Abendblatt. June 20, 2008.
  9. Web site: NFL Europa Players of Week 5. GridironFans.com (from NFLEurope.com). November 8, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110711131057/http://gridironfans.com/forums/general-football-discussion/25545-nfl-europa-thread-6.html. July 11, 2011. dead. mdy-all.