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Up and under Quentin Corbitt goes up for a reverse layup against the defense of Taylor Bradley (33) as the Roane County freshmen practiced against the Lady Raiders varsity. Photo by Jim Cooper

Unfortunately, the Colonels lost a 34-26 shootout to Jacksonville State – their fourth defeat in their final five games – to finish with a 5-6 record. It marked the first losing season for EKU since 1972 and prevented the Colonels from winning a third straight Ohio Valley Conference championship.

Despite the disappointing ending, Hardman helped the Colonels’ offense to one of its best days of the season and only enhanced his standing with pro scouts. You might even say that “Big D’s” draft stock right now is a blue chip with a bullet.

According to nfldraftscout.com, Hardman was the 24th-best offensive tackle eligible for the 2010 NFL draft and projected as a seventh round pick or free agent.

But that was on Sept. 1.

The current projection for the 6-6, 300-pounder is as a sixth- or seventh-round pick. He has also moved up to rate as the 17th-best eligible draftee of the 145 players at his position.

“He’s a very special young man,” EKU offensive line coach Carson Jeffers told the recruiting site at the beginning of the season. “We’ve already had several NFL scouts come through here to look at him. He’s very talented. The guy has played since he was a redshirt freshman. He’s got a lot of God-given ability.”

Along with the size, strength and speed, Hardman has what it takes upstairs. As reported last week, he was named to the FCS (formerly Division I-AA) Academic All-District team. Since then, he has been tabbed to receive an OVC Scholar-Athlete Award.

The award is the highest individual honor that can be earned by OVC student-athletes. It is given annually to three men and three women of junior and senior status for their accomplishments in both the classroom and athletics.

Hardman, the son of RCHS head coach Tom and his wife Jane, completed his bachelor’s degree in business last December with a 3.53 GPA and is now working on his MBA.

All that business education could come in handy. I personally witnessed two agents talking to the Hardman family after a recent game, and others are sure to be doing the same in the coming days.

And who can blame them? There’s a good reason a bright red arrow pointing upward is used on the scouting Web site to indicate the direction Hardman’s draft stock is heading.

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I told one of those agents that Hardman used to play fullback for me back in the day. He asked if I was a coach, and I said no, I was the quarterback.

“Big D” was a backyard terror when he would visit our house, and I can remember the older boys bouncing off him, and eventually shying away from contact, when he would run the ball.

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There’s nothing quite like the optimism present at middle or high school sports practice during the preseason.

Like I said back in August about football, every winter sports team is undefeated right now and the players and coaches are excited about the upcoming season.

I spent some time in local gyms last week talking to girls basketball coaches. Very soon – after deer week – it will be boys basketball and wrestling time (so get ready, coaches).

Our annual girls basketball special section, by the way, will be published next week.