Baron Hardesty, Leading the Charge(rs) Among 2026 Defenders @BECoachKendrick @BE_Chargers @hardesty_baron @minguabeefjerky @1776Bank @840WHAS @KyHighFootball

Hardesty has carved out a name for himself in the Bluegrass

’26 DE/LB ‘Charging’ into the 2024 season ready for action!

Baron Hardesty is among the very best DE/LB’s in Kentucky’s 2026 graduating class. He is 6’2,” 240-pounds; ranked 2nd among instate DE’s by at least one national ranking service; carries a 3.9-GPA; and is coming off a year which would see him make first team all-district in 6A, Kentucky football. He is drawing a ton of D-1 interest, particularly from IVY league schools who are drooling all over his academic performance as well as his on-field prowess.

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, KPGFootball

Hardesty’s Sophomore Highlights

Hardesty’s X-page

Formerly Mingua Beef Jerky POW

Hardesty’s Instagram

Baron Hardesty is a name familiar to you if you read or follow us. He has before been our Mingua Beef Jerky, Protein-packed Performer (July, 2023) and he may well win it again for all we know.

Hard to ignore players like him. For instance, how many DE’s can claim the frame he has developed or the production he has amassed?

Hardesty is 6’2,” and weighs 240-pounds. Hardest power cleans close to three-bills (285) and is ranked the number two DE in all of Kentucky’s 2026 graduating class by at lease one national ranking service.

Hardesty is 6’2,” 240-pounds, and the No. 2 ranked DE in Kentucky’s ’26 graduating class

Prep RedZone

Hardesty is being hotly pursued by many D-1’s. This is particularly true among the IVY-Leaguers which drool over both his play and his 3.9-GPA in the classroom, an-IVY prerequisite.

Hardesty had quite a year in ’23. The sophomore starting at the 6A level (which should tell you plenty right there) registered 71.5-tackles, eight (8) TFLs, and seven (7) QB-sacks. He helped his team register an 8-2 regular season mark and a 9-3 overall worksheet just a year off winning the 6A title (2022).

The Chargers from Mount Washington were finalists in ’94 and ‘2008 in addition to winning the title in ’22 so they aren’t estranged from deep playoff runs or challenging for classification supremacy. To compete at an annually high level, it takes players. Star players…

Baron Hardesty gives his Chargers just that. Schools recruiting Kentucky are taking due notice.

This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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About Fletcher Long 1631 Articles
Two-time winner of Kentucky Press Association awards for excellence in writing and reporting news stories while Managing Editor of the Jackson (KY) Times-Voice

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