Langston Hardy DL/EDGE Wake Forest |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #11 SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.60 seconds (95%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #11 | |
| SUB-POSITION: EDGE RUSHER | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.60 seconds (95%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
78.6 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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73% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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80% |
| Pass Rush: |
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73% |
| Run Defense: |
|
89% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#280
Position rank:
#46 (DL)
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| College Games: 42 College Snaps: 1718 | ||
ESPN RATING: 71/100
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247 RATING: 81/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.5 (90%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dylan Horton - TCU |
|
85% |
| Eyabi Okie-Anoma - Charlotte |
|
85% |
| Nelson Ceaser - Houston |
|
80% |
Draft Profile: Bio
A son of former Pro Bowl linebacker Kevin Hardy, Langston Hardy was an all-state pick as a junior and senior at Sandalwood High School in Jacksonville, Florida, where he also played receiver and earned all-city honors in baseball.Hardy redshirted at UConn in 2022 and broke out in 2024 with 44 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a 64-yard interception return for a touchdown at Duke. He transferred to Wake Forest for 2025, started all 13 games and led the ACC with 17 tackles for loss, adding seven sacks and earning honorable mention All-ACC.
Now a redshirt senior on the Bednarik Award watch list, Hardy missed spring practice with a minor injury, then started every game in 2026. He has had sacks against Miami, Louisville and Cal, and he recorded six pressures in the 38-14 win at NC State on 10 October.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Rare first-step quickness, turning the corner for sacks against Miami, Louisville and Cal
- Strong run defender for his size, with 24 stops in eight games
- Six pressures in the win at NC State showed how he can take over a passing down
- Production at two schools, including an ACC-best 17 tackles for loss in 2025
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Very light frame for an edge, and bigger tackles can wash him inside
- Purdue held him to one pressure in 71 snaps
- Pass rush leans on speed, with few counters once tackles adjust to his get-off
- Missed 10 tackles in 2025, when his angles in pursuit were often too aggressive
- Older prospect after five college seasons, which narrows his upside window
Scouting Report: Summary
Hardy is a quick, productive edge rusher who has made plays at two programs. His first step is rare, he finishes when he gets home, and he has become a tough run defender for his size, with 24 stops this season and a big afternoon at NC State.However, he is undersized for the position, and bigger tackles can move him when they get their hands on him. His rush plan relies heavily on speed, Purdue kept him quiet, and his tackling angles were loose in 2025.
Overall, Hardy brings speed, production and the bloodlines of a Pro Bowl father. He projects as a priority free agent rush specialist who will need to add strength to hold up on early downs.
How other scouting services rate Langston Hardy (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
314.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
55.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.