Grove, Hardy Named To Conference USA All-Freshman Team
December 06, 2011 | Football
Dec. 6, 2011
IRVING, Texas - East Carolina freshmen Jeremy Grove, an inside linebacker, and Justin Hardy, an inside receiver, have been named to the 2011 Conference USA All-Freshman Team, according to an announcement by the league office Tuesday afternoon. Earlier in the day, Grove earned Honorable Mention All-Conference USA honors.
Grove booked 122 tackles during his debut season to set the East Carolina rookie record, surpassing Daren Hart's 97 stops in 1993. The mark was also the third-highest total by a Pirate since the start of the 1998 campaign. Included in the 122 hits were 3.5 tackles for lost yardage and one sack. In addition, Grove tallied a squad-leading five quarterback hurries and a pair of pass breakups.
In Conference USA play, Grove paced the Pirates with 75 tackles, 24 more than sophomores Kyle Tudor and Damon Magazu, who tied for second on the unit during league action. Grove also posted ECU-best totals with 50 assists and 25 solo hits during C-USA contests.
Against in-state foe North Carolina, the Frederick, Md., native booked 13 hits, all in the first three quarters. He dropped the Tar Heels' Giovani Bernard for a three-yard loss in the opening quarter for Grove's first career solo tackle for lost yardage. Against another Atlantic Coast Conference opponent, Virginia Tech, Grove registered a personal-best two quarterback hurries and collected nine-of-12 stops during the first half. He also tallied his first career TFL in the second quarter, combining with Matt Milner to drop David Wilson for a three-yard loss.
Hardy ended his freshman campaign with 64 receptions for 658 yards. The catch total was good for sixth on the East Carolina single-season record chart, while both figures set program rookie records. He currently stands 28th among all FBS players in catches per game with 6.4 and is one of only three freshmen to rank in the top 70.
The Vanceboro product led the Pirates in Conference USA action, making 40 receptions for 463 yards and five touchdowns. Hardy also posted a team second-best 11.6 yards per grab. His 30 points during C-USA contests trailed only kicker Michael Barbour's 48. During home games, Hardy was also East Carolina's top receiver, hauling in 33 catches for 294 yards and a trio of TDs.
2011 Conference USA All-Freshman Team
Offense
QB - Blake Bortles, UCF
RB - Travon Van, Marshall
RB - Jamal Woodyard, Southern Miss
OL - Rowdy Harper, Houston
OL - Chris Jasperse, Marshall
OL - Drew Carroll, Rice
OL - Torrian Wilson, UCF
OL - Jarel Watkins, UTEP
TE - Eric Tomlinson, UTEP
WR - Justin Hardy, East Carolina
WR - J.J. Worton, UCF
Defense
DL - Eric Braswell, Houston
DL - Rakeem Nunez, Southern Miss
DL - Michael Pierce, Tulane
DL - Brentom Todd, Tulsa
LB - Jeremy Grove, East Carolina
LB - Derrick Mathews, Houston
LB - Troy Gray, UCF
DB - Bryce Callahan, Rice
DB - Tray Becton-Martin, Southern Miss
DB - Kwame Sexton, Tulsa
DB - Clayton Geathers, UCF
Special Teams
K - Ty Long, UAB
P - Cole Way, Tulsa
KR - Rannell Hall, UCF
PR - Mario Hull, Rice
