Death of former IU football star James Hardy ruled a suicide

The death of former Indiana University football star and NFL draft pick James Hardy has been ruled a suicide.

The Allen County coroner’s office said in a news release Wednesday that Hardy died of asphyxia due to drowning and that the manner of his death was a suicide.

The 31-year-old Fort Wayne native’s body was found June 7 at the Hosey Dam, in the 800 block of North Anthony Boulevard in Fort Wayne. Hardy's mother reported him missing May 30.

► More about James Hardy:The James Hardy I thought I knew

► The impact of Hardy's death:James Hardy's mysterious death leaves his mother grieving, Fort Wayne waiting for answers

An employee with the city’s water filtration plant found Hardy’s body as he walked along the catwalk on his regular rounds.

Officials who recovered his body that evening said it appeared that Hardy had been in the water for some time, but it remains unclear when Hardy went under. 

Hardy was a standout receiver for the Hoosiers from 2005-07. His record-setting career saw him rack up 2,740 yards and 36 receiving touchdowns before entering the NFL draft. He led the Big Ten in receiving touchdowns in both 2006 and 2007.

He was a major force in the Hoosiers' drive to the 2007 Insight Bowl, Indiana's first postseason appearance to that point in 14 years, just months after the death of coach Terry Hoeppner.

Hardy spoke at Hoeppner's memorial service about the impact the former IU coach had on him, calling him a "father figure."

Hardy was a two-sport athlete at Elmhurst High School and finished third in the voting for IndyStar Mr. Basketball in 2004. 

He was part of an Elmhurst football team that broke the longest losing streak in state history, 64 games, with a win over Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger on Aug. 22, 2003.

He redshirted the 2004 IU football season but started three times that winter for the basketball team, averaging 1.7 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. He did not play basketball for Indiana after the 2004-05 season and instead focused on football.

Hardy was selected by Buffalo in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft and played 16 games for the Bills in 2008-09, recording 10 catches for 96 yards and two scores. He also spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, though he never played for the franchise in a regular-season game.

IndyStar assistant sports editor Matthew Glenesk contributed to this story. Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at (317) 444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.