New Orleans Saints defensive back Justin Hardee has taken a unique path to NFL stardom. Hardee attended Glenville High School in Cleveland with Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore, but their paths diverged from there. Lattimore was highly-recruited, and a first-round draft pick. Hardee, a bit-part wide receiver, was cut after his rookie training camp. Saints defensive backs coach Aaron Glenn saw something he liked in Hardee’s game and took him on as a project.
Now, Hardee is a weapon on the special teams coverage units for New Orleans and making plays in his own right. He blocked a Tampa Bay Buccaneers punt in 2017 and recovered it in the end zone for a special teams touchdown.