Hardt Outstanding In His Field Tight End From Tiny Marlin (Pop. 65) Reaps Stellar Career

Some things just don’t sound right.

One example: Jesse Hardt, Playboy magazine All-American.

Hardt is Eastern Washington’s all-conference tight end and a product of tiny Marlin, Wash., so it was hardly surprising when he was overlooked by some of the glitzier preseason football operations - like the one published each year by Playboy.

The former Odessa High School eight-man football standout hasn’t gone completely unnoticed, however. In addition to earning first-team all-Big Sky Conference honors last season, Hardt is a proud member of Successful Farming Magazine’s Inaugural All-American Farm Team.

For his efforts, the magazine will fund a $1,000 scholarship at EWU, donated in Hardt’s name.

“And Jesse is definitely a farm boy,” testifies EWU left tackle Aaron Barfield, who went to high school in Renton, a megalopolis compared to rural Marlin (pop. 65). “I remember when I was first introduced to him. I said, ‘Hi, I’m Aaron Barfield.’ And he just said, ‘Howdy.”’

Hardt prefers to greet Big Sky opponents more forcefully. In eight games last season, the 6-foot-3, 235-pounder caught 37 passes for 541 yards and four touchdowns, improving enough as a blocker to earn his status as the most effective tight end in the conference. Not bad, considering tight ends don’t exist in eight-man football.

“The game changes a lot when you go from 16 guys on the field to 22,” said Hardt, an Academic All-American working toward a degree in elementary education. “When you get to the corner in college, you’re not going to score every time.”

Hardt is somewhat surprised by his successful transition.

“To go from B-8 to the college level, I was a little scared,” he said. “But in my second year of actual playing (at EWU), I started. I kind of just fell into the role, really.”

Playing for the Eagles hasn’t hurt. Head coach Mike Kramer is admittedly obsessed with offensive formations involving two tight ends, meaning there’s an abundance of playing time for Hardt and Tim Hunsaker.

Perhaps it’s a small-town thing. Kramer hails from Colton, Hardt from Marlin and Hunsaker from Hartline. “I just appreciate coaching a guy from Marlin,” Kramer said. “Marlin, at least, has a better post office than Colton.”

Hardt values his rural roots, having worked summers helping with a family farm. Still, he considers a future in farming unlikely.

“It’s a good way of life, a good way to grow up as a kid,” Hardt said. “I enjoyed it. All my summer jobs have been in farm-related jobs - combine driving, tractor driving, truck driving, working at the grain elevators.

“(But) I’ve seen a lot of the stress over the years that farmers go through. Everything depends on the weather, the crop, the price of wheat at the time.”

An outstanding 1995 season might earn Hardt an NFL tryout. Another former Big Sky tight end, Weber State’s Alfred Pupunu, is a starter for the AFC champion San Diego Chargers.

“Is he?” Hardt asked. “I didn’t know that. That’s good. If something like that came along, I’d take the opportunity. But I don’t really foresee that happening. I’ve had decent numbers, but not that great. My size - pretty average. My speed - pretty average.”

Of course, he’d be a natural at the NFL scouting combine. “Put him on a Heston swather and he knows exactly where to go,” Kramer said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: THE HARDT FILE Jesse Hardt, EWU tight end Year: Senior Size: 6-foot-3, 235 pounds. Quotable: “The game changes a lot when you go from 16 guys on the field to 22. When you get to the corner in college, you’re not going to score every time.”