MECOLE HARDMAN,
WR, CHIEFS
What were your fi rst thoughts fi nding
out you will be playing with the NFL MVP and in one of
the highest-scoring offenses in football?
“Oh, I was excited. I was just thankful for the opportunity
to play with them and get to work. But it’s great to play with
an off ense like that and a quarterback like that, and a coach
like Andy Reid. So, I was ecstatic.”
What’s your best attribute that you will bring to
the offense?
“My speed. I think that’s obvious. I think I can bring that
to them. Just a playmaker in general. I can make plays deep,
short. I think that will be an asset just being a playmaker.”
Your Georgia teammate Riley Ridley is now with the
Bears. What’s one aspect of his game you’d like to
add to your game?
“I think he gets off the line very well. His release. If I can
add that to my game, which I’m working on, I think I can be
even more dominant. He does a great job of breaking down
his routes.”
What cards of yours this weekend have you
thought were cool or unique?
“Some of these cards I saw, I was like, ‘Dang! I want
that for myself!’ But it’s good to see people put these cards
together and get to sign them.”
Did you realize the college football cards were such
a big market?
“I know there are a lot of college fans who enjoy the play-
ers, and being a top player in college, your card is going to be
in high demand.”
What did you collect growing up?
“I collected track medals. I still have a good majority of
them. But I wasn’t a big collecting guy.”
What all-time player would you most want to be on
a football card with?
“Devin Hester. Th at’s my favorite player, so me and him.”
Who’s your early pick for Rookie of the Year?
“I think N’Keal Harry is in a good situation—Tom Brady
throwing to him, and in a good off ense.”
What would you be doing if you were not playing
football?
“I think I would like to be on TV, broadcasting. I always
wanted to be in a movie, too.”
Any players you’re looking forward to playing
against?
“I know our fi rst game is against Jacksonville, and they
have one of the best corners in the league in Jalen Ramsey.
So, it will be good to go against him and see how I do against
him. He’s the best at the position. Seeing Antonio Brown play
in person for the Oakland Raiders, that will be fun. Seeing
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Aaron Rodgers in person, and Tom Brady. It will be fun to
see guys like that. Seeing these guys play while in college, and
now seeing them in real life will be fun.”
If you had to choose, would you rather have a
lot of yards or a lot of touchdowns in a game?
“Well, as a receiver, I’d rather have touchdowns. If I
was a running back, maybe the yards. If we were in the
red zone and you didn’t want to run the ball, you can
just give me the ball.”
What players still at Georgia should collectors
watch out for the next couple years?
“De’Andre Swift. He’s a beast. He’s one of the best
running backs in college football. He’s going to be
exciting to watch this year.”
MECOLE
HARDMAN