ND's Eilar Hardy announces he'll finish at Bowling Green

Soon-to-be former Notre Dame safety Eilar Hardy didn’t waste much time in securing a landing spot for his fifth year of college eligibility.

Hardy announced Monday night on his Twitter account that he’ll play the 2015 season at Bowling Green, teaming up with former Pickerington Central High (Ohio) grads, wide receiver Roger Lewis and defensive back Marcus Milton.

Hardy is set to graduate in May from ND, and will use the grad-school waiver to play without having to sit out. Hardy won’t practice with the Irish in their spring practice sessions, but will be welcome to work out at the school’s facilities.

Bowling Green could certainly use him. The offensive-strong Falcons (8-6), who include former South Bend Washington star wide receiver Gehrig Dieter in their arsenal, ranked 115th last season among the 125 FBS teams in total defense, 106th in scoring defense and 122nd in passing yards allowed.

The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder leaves ND with 35 career tackles, nine of which came this past season after returning from suspension for the team’s final five games. Hardy played in just 15 games in his four years at ND, starting two games in 2013.

He was a part of the school’s academic dishonesty probe that effectively ended the ND football career of linebacker Kendall Moore and in part coaxed wide receiver DaVaris Daniels to truncate his.

Conditions related to ND’s investigation and subsequent findings, per a source close to the program who wishes to remain anonymous, prompted Hardy to have to spend his fifth year elsewhere.

He the only player, among the five implicated, who returned to play in 2014. Cornerback KeiVarae Russell and defensive end Ishaq Williams have pledged to return to the school and the team in June.

ehansen@ndinsider.com

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