Position: Nose tackle Weight 138 kg Parents Yvette Bates, Tim Bates | College: South Carolina State Height 1.88 m | |
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Date of birth: (1993-02-07) February 7, 1993 (age 24) Place of birth: Salisbury, North Carolina High school: Spencer (NC) North Rowan NFL Draft: 2016 / Round: 3 / Pick: 89 Education South Carolina State University (2012–2016) Current team Pittsburgh Steelers (#79 / Defensive tackle) Similar Sean Davis, Artie Burns, Daniel McCullers, Stephon Tuitt, Cameron Heyward Profiles | ||
Javon DeAndre Hargrave (born February 7, 1993) is an American football nose tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Carolina State. He was selected in the third round with the 89th overall pick of the 2016 NFL draft.
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College career
Hargrave began attending South Carolina State in 2012. As a freshman in 2012, he finished with 45 tackles and 4.5 tackles for a loss. He was named a Freshman All-American.
The following season he collected 12.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks.
On October 25, 2014, he tied an FCS record after finishing with a total of 6 sacks against Bethune-Cookman. He finished third among the FCS with 16 sacks as a junior in 2014 and was voted a Associated Press All-American.
In the 2015 season opener he made 6 solo tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses, and 2.5 sacks in a 35–7 victory against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. On September 16, 2015, he made 3 tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss in a 36–0 shutout of Florida A&M. On October 3, 2015, he had a season-high 10 tackles and a sack in a loss to Furman. On October 24, 2015, Hargrave had one of his best games of the season, finishing with 6 solo tackles, 8 total tackles, 4 tackles for losses, forced a fumble, and had a season-high 3 sacks against Delaware State. In Week 11, he again had a season-high 3 sacks, 7 tackles, and 4 tackles for losses in a victory over Norfolk State. In his last career collegiate game he made a total of 4 tackles, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble in a win over Savannah State.
He finished his last season with South Carolina State with 45 solo tackles, 59 total tackles, 22 tackles for losses, 13.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. For the second consecutive season he was named an Associated Press All-American.
Professional career
Coming out of college, Hargrave was projected by many analysts as a third or fourth round selection. He was ranked as the 11th best defensive tackle prospect out of the 209 available by NFLDraftScout.com and raised his draft stock with a good performance at the East-West Shrine Game. Hargrave was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine and participated in all workouts and positional drills. At South Carolina State's Pro Day, he stood on his combine numbers and only did positional drills. Representatives and scouts from 23 NFL teams attended his Pro Day and four defensive line coaches from the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tennessee Titans also came to watch Hargrave. He along with 14 other prospects participated. Although analysts and scouts gave him positive reviews for his motor, playmaking ability, quick footwork, athleticism, and strength they also criticized him for his short arms, stocky frame, small hands, lack of instincts, and also considered him a raw talent.
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Hargrave in the third round (89th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.
On June 10, 2016, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed him to a four-year, $3.114 million rookie contract with a $693,000 signing bonus. Hargrave was the last player of the Steelers' 2016 draft class to sign a contract with the Steelers.
After competing with fellow nose tackle Daniel McCullers in training camp and the preseason, Hargrave won the starting job as the starting nose tackle to begin the 2016 season. He earned his first professional career start during Steelers' season opener at the Washington Redskins and helped them win 38-16. The following game, Hargrave recorded his first career tackle in a 24-16 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
On November 20, 2016, Hargrave scored his first career NFL touchdown after Ryan Shazier stripped Cleveland Brown's quarterback Josh McCown. During the Steelers' victory he recorded his first sack and also finished with a tackle.
On December 4, 2016, he suffered a concussion during a victory over the New York Giants and was inactive the following game against the Buffalo Bills.
In the 2016 postseason, Hargrave recorded eight tackles and a sack, taking down Tom Brady in the AFC Championship game.