Rolijah Hardy 'did something every single day to get better' this spring and will continue to see his stock 'skyrocket' this offseason

When Rolijah Hardy committed to Indiana and Curt Cignetti out of the transfer portal following one season at Navy, expectations were not that he’d transition into one of the most valuable members of the defense in such a short period of time. Instead, Hardy enters his second year with the Hoosiers as a pivotal piece to Bryant Haines’ lethal defense.

Hardy finished his freshman campaign with 22 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and one sack.

And, he made his mark early. In week two against Western Illinois Hardy had one tackle for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and then one interception that he returned for a touchdown. It was a ‘welcome to college’ moment, albeit in a historically lopsided 77-3 win for Indiana.

After he failed to record a single tackle in four of the next six games, things flipped and he became in instrumental part of the versatile and extremely dominant linebacking core.

“Well, about halfway through the season he was the starter in our trio package, which is three-linebacker defense to 12 personnel, two-tight-end sets,” IU head coach Curt Cignetti said last week. “Really he was a starter the last half of the season.”

After that switch, he turned in 13 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the remaining five games. He tied a season-high in tackles against Ohio State and then had his season high (4) against Notre Dame.

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All of that late-season production was a byproduct of his ability to learn and then put into motion. It also helped playing behind and then alongside All-American Aiden Fisher and then one of the most underrated linebackers around the country in Jailin Walker — both of whom knew the Bryant Haines defensive system inside and out.

“The thing with Rolijah is, he’s been a sponge,” Fisher said last year. “He’s gotten in that (linebacker) room and he’s wanted to learn every single thing. Everything me and J Walk (Jailin Walker) say, he’s always listening. He’s really impressive. He’s a really good player, smart player, and I know he’s impressed a lot of people.”

That mindset allowed Hardy to enter the spring as a starter and one of the leaders of the defense. While he’ll still be playing alongside Aiden Fisher in 2025, no Jailin Walker has given Hardy an even bigger opportunity — but also large shoes to fill.

“He’s been a starter all spring,” Cignetti said. ” … his last week of spring was really, really good, and that’s how we need him to play when he comes back in the fall. He’s got a lot of talent.”

And Rolijah Hardy wasted no time to showcase his ability and avoid any talk of a sophomore slump. He was one of the major standouts during IU’s spring game — albeit in a glorified practice setting.

He had numerous tackles and a 43-yard interception return for a touchdown off of Fernando Mendoza.

“The ball just finds that dude. I don’t know how he does it, I don’t know what he does, but the ball is always in his hands.” Fisher said after the spring game. “But throughout the entire spring, you saw him take a step every single day. Whether that’s beating a block, getting more surface area on tackles, he did something every single day to get better. I think he showed it a lot tonight, a TFL, stuffing guys coming down hill on the pick six.”

Indiana heads into the summer with questions about the depth at the linebacker position. Yes, Hardy and Fisher will be the centerpieces while Kaiden Turner and Isaiah Jones will provide good depth, but outside of that group there is inexperience and limited bodies.

Regardless of Indiana’s involvement in the transfer portal — and how many bodies at the position it brings in — Rolijah Hardy is on the fast track to watching his potential and production ‘skyrocket’ the remainder of the offseason. And Indiana is counting on it.

“Just really proud of his development,” Fisher continued. “I think this summer it’s really just going to skyrocket and by August 30 he’ll be ready to go.”

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