Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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strong when I was going through my rehab. That set me back." Relegated to the defensive scout team throughout the 2012 campaign when the Irish finished the regular season No. 1, Hardy could not even crack the three-deep at safety — despite season-ending injuries to fifthyear senior Jamoris Slaughter and junior Austin Collinsworth. Senior Zeke Motta and surprising sophomore Matthias Farley, converted seemed destined to remain on the scout team. But a season-ending injury to Baratti in August and temporary injury setbacks to Collinsworth and Shumate put Hardy into the forefront as a regular. He had earned it with a renewed attitude in the spring. "I felt this past spring it clicked for me," Hardy said. "I knew I had a chance to help this team win. Throughout spring I was just battling hard, I was practicing hard, just every day "I felt this past spring it clicked for me. I knew I had a chance to help this team win. Throughout spring I was just battling hard, I was practicing hard, just every day trying to get better. Coming into this season I was pretty confident with the way I was playing." Hardy from offense, were the starters. More disconcerting was that freshmen Nick Baratti and Elijah Shumate had moved right past Hardy, too, the latter in a nickel role, as had former walk-on and senior Chris Salvi and fifth-year senior Dan McCarthy. Hardy didn't even have a spot on special teams while several walk-ons filled out those units. "Whatever happened to Eilar Hardy?" became a regular inquiry among some Irish faithful. "It was tough," Hardy admitted. "All throughout high school and all throughout my life I hadn't really battled injuries, so it kind of mentally set me back. I wasn't into it, I was frustrated by not playing, I was frustrated because I was hurt." With the return this year of Farley, Collinsworth, Shumate and Baratti, plus the enrollment of five-star freshman Max Redfield, Hardy's career trying to get better. Coming into this season I was pretty confident with the way I was playing." Defensive coordinator Bob Diaco and head coach Brian Kelly shared those sentiments. "We know he's had a pretty good innate football ability," Kelly said. "He's had to work hard at the little things. He's focused a lot more on attention to detail." Hardy reflects the overall 2013 defense that has been ravaged by injuries. It has been knocked back, but some "safety valves" have emerged to hold it together. "We have guys that are tough," Hardy said. "We're banged up … but we have enough guys to where we can make plays and do what we need on defense and offense." Look no further than Hardy as proof. ✦