Hardy Nickerson Jr. Class: Freshman Hometown: Oakland, CA High School: Bishop O'Dowd HS Weight: 221 Position: LB Experience: HS

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NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNED: February 1, 2012 (6:19 a.m. PT)

STARS
ESPN (3), MaxPreps (3), Rivals (3), Scout (2), 247Sports (2)

NATIONAL RANKINGS
Inside Linebacker - Rivals (38), 247Sports (73); Middle Linebacker - Scout (79); Outside Linebacker - ESPN (109)

STATE RANKINGS
Overall - Rivals (90), ESPN (137), 247Sports (191)

REGIONAL RANKINGS (CALIFORNIA/HAWAII/NEVADA)
California/Hawaii/Nevada Overall - SuperPrep (139)

POSTSEASON BOWL GAMES
2011 - U.S. Semper Fidelis All-American Game, International Bowl (U.S. versus a group of international players to be played in Austin, Tex., on Feb. 1, 2012)

INDIVIDUAL HONORS
2011 - All-Region (Prepstar, SuperPrep), Division III All-State First-Team (MaxPreps), All-State Third-Team (ESPN High School California), All-Metro (San Francisco Chronicle), All-Area (Contra Costa Times), Butkus Award Watch List (award annually given to the nation's top linebacker at high school, collegiate and professional levels of football)
2010 - Hayward Area Athletic League Defensive Player of the Year; All-State Underclassman, All-North Coast Section, All-HAAL

INDIVIDUAL STATS
2011 - 153 tackles 1.0 sack, 1 INT, 3 passes defended, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble; 78 rushes, 453 yards, 6 TD; 8 receptions, 48 yards
2010 - 116 tackles 14.0 TFL, 4 passes defended, 1 fumble recovery; 9 rushes, 45 yards; 10 receptions, 95 yards, 1 TD
2009 - 52 tackles, 1 interception; 7 receptions, 47 yards; 4 rushes, 20 yards
2008 - 68 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries

TEAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2011 - 9-3 overall, 7-0 Hayward Area Athletic League, HAAL champions, North Coast Section playoffs second round
2010 - 10-2 overall, 7-0 Hayward Area Athletic League, HAAL champions, North Coast Section playoffs second round

MAXPREPS SAYS
"[Hardy] proves that the apple doesn't fall from the tree. Not quite as big as his dad, but just as instinctive, quick and athletic. He shows good awareness and his coach calls him a difference maker with his playmaking ability."

OTHER
Played both running back and linebacker at the prep level but expected to be a linebacker at Cal ... ... father, Hardy Nickerson Sr., played for 16 seasons in the NFL (four-time All-Pro, five Pro Bowl selections), is a Cal Athletics Hall of Famer after his collegiate football career with the Bears, and was his son's head coach for his final two seasons at Bishop O'Dowd High School.

LAST UPDATED: February 1, 2012