Comments on: Cal State Fullerton basketball player takes up the gridiron

By: bigal1952

bigal1952 — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:44:30 +0000

Since a few posters have mentioned Julius Peppers, here’s a short video of him and Ronald Curry playing together at UNC.

By: wetpaperbag3

wetpaperbag3 — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:34:30 +0000

thankheavenfornumberseven says: Apr 2, 2012 4:12 PM

The Vikings are all over this guy.
=====================================

HA HA HA……..SIKE! My Raiders were “all over this guy” and signed him today (pre-draft) as an UDFA.

By: brownbuddha

brownbuddha — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:22:35 +0000

Graham in college. Think Anthony Mason with no offense, except dunks on poor defensive rotations, and about 1/10th the minutes per game.

By: brownbuddha

brownbuddha — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:20:51 +0000

Jimmy Graham played football his senior season at Miami. He was never going to make the NBA. He is a way better football player.

By: genericcommenter

genericcommenter — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:44:06 +0000

Some of these names are not like the others. An All-American Tight End in college, who also plays basketball and leaves early to be drafted in 1st round in the NFL is not a “basketball-turned-football player.” But guys who exclusively play basketball 4 years, with no professional future in that sport, and then switch sports to turn Pro ARE.

By: division2lbss

division2lbss — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:42:41 +0000

Donovan McNabb was hooper too…wasn’t too good though.

By: empireredd

empireredd — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 01:38:20 +0000

Charlie ward also played football and basketball

By: svanablak

svanablak — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:50:57 +0000

realitypolice, you are wrong. jimmy graham DID play football at the U, he played one year and was pretty decent that’s why he choose the gridiron over b-ball as a profession!

By: thebigtexas

thebigtexas — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:06:53 +0000

@ realitypolice -

Ummmm….Jimmy Graham DID play football in college. Had 17 catches for 213 yards and 5 TDs.

He was just an average basketball player at best.

Peppers is still the best crossover player (basketball to football) in the NFL.

And cball77 is correct – Peppers was a solid contributor/6th man on a UNC team with some talented players in front of him.

By: billsfantx

billsfantx — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:37:08 +0000

Don’t forget about Fendi Onobun. Or not. your choice.

By: EJ

EJ — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:24:59 +0000

He will make it into the NFL but will go as an undrafted FA. There are too many good TE’s in this years draft. Probably not the best year to switch sports.

By: rajbais

rajbais — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:02:03 +0000

Is there any football résumé for Hardy???

If he at least played high school football I would not be concerned. However, there doesn’t seem to be a real football résumé!!!

His only chance of making a roster is the fact that this year’s tight end class is weak!!!

By: scoregasmic

scoregasmic — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:57:43 +0000

I Think this should start happening more, bball players turning in to tight ends could completely change the NFL, tight ends are all ready becoming more important

By: cball77

cball77 — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:57:41 +0000

Just got it – only TE’s listed. Peppers still should have got a shout out.

By: realitypolice

realitypolice — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:54:50 +0000

@thebigtexas:

um…….. Jimmy Graham didn’t even play football in college, so I hope we was a better basketball player.

In the ACC, no less.

By: cball77

cball77 — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:53:56 +0000

I have to agree with thebigtexas – how could Silva include Julius Thomas and leave out Julius Peppers. His UNC teams weren’t the greatest Tar Heel teams ever, but come on it’s UNC basketball! If I remember right he was a physical 3/4 who was a part time starter/6th man.

Evan, your article would have been a lot better if you’d chosen the right Julius.

By: rc33

rc33 — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:52:44 +0000

He’s already off to a rocky start with an agent no NFL team can pronounce.

By: babyhorsemorgan

babyhorsemorgan — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:46:58 +0000

Those are not “alligator arms” on Hardy. It just looks like alligator skin.

By: toad8572

toad8572 — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:45:19 +0000

He has TE size and so-so LB speed. He probably can’t block.

Unless he can muster CB speed, the only way he’s getting in the game is with a ticket.

By: Lou Pickney

Lou Pickney — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:29:02 +0000

Good luck to Hardy with this. The NFL is a copycat league, and with the playoff success of the likes of Jimmy Graham, Vernon Davis, Gronk, etc., there are teams looking hard to find capable tight ends with the size and speed and blocking ability and hands to perform on the gridiron. It sounds like Hardy’s measurables are strong — if his blocking skills and hands are up to snuff, he should at least receive some consideration from NFL teams needing a receiving threat at tight end.

By: thebigtexas

thebigtexas — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:24:30 +0000

I don’t know why people forget about Julius Peppers when they write about college basketball players playing football. Peppers was a two sport athlete for UNC. Frankly, Antonio Gates was probably the only one listed above that was a better basketball player. Peppers played ACC hoops – just a wee bit better than a Cal State Fullerton schedule.

By: babyhorsemorgan

babyhorsemorgan — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:15:44 +0000

There are a few B Ballers who have already had pro days. Derek Carrier, Dale Moss, Les Brown. Their numbers were a lot more impressive than Hardy’s and they probably have a better chance of making the transition to pro football.

By: h3min1230

h3min1230 — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:15:08 +0000

That’s pretty cool.

By: stavreafavre

stavreafavre — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:14:42 +0000

In other words, he forgot to major in anything and the basketball clubs in Europe don’t seem interested.

By: thankheavenfornumberseven

thankheavenfornumberseven — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:12:09 +0000

The Vikings are all over this guy.