Ohio State Overview
• C.J. spent four seasons at Ohio State - from the 2022 season through 2025 - and red-shirted the 2025 season to retain one year of eligibility heading into the 2026 campaign
• He played in four regular season games in 2025 to retain his red-shirt season and then played on special teams in both post-season games
• Was moved from linebacker to defensive end in spring 2025 to take advantage of his speed and strength,
• He is a veteran of 46 games as a Buckeye - 12 games as a true freshman in 2022, 12 in 2023, all 16 games in 2024 when Ohio State won the national championship and six in 2025
• He enters 2026 with 43 career tackles, including 22 solo stops and 21 assisted tackles, and 4.0 tackles-for-loss with two of those quarterback sacks
• His tackle totals include six as a freshman, nine as a sophomore, 22 as a junior and six this past season
• His quarterback sacks came in 2024 vs. Akron and half-sacks vs. Michigan State and Northwestern
• Graduated in December 2025 with his degree in human development and family services
• An Academic all-Big Ten Conference honoree
More on C.J.
• C.J. was part of Ohio State’s 2022 recruiting class
• He enrolled in classes in January 2022 along with 13 other members of his class
• A five-star prospect according to 247Sports and the No. 1-ranked player in Ohio for the Class of 2022
• Semifinalist for the Maxwell Club’s National High School Defensive Player of the Year award
• Was the nation’s No. 2-ranked linebacker
• A High School Butkus Award Finalist
• Recorded 84 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and two interceptions, one of which he returned 99 yards for a touchdown, as a senior in the fall of 2021
• Named Ohio’s Division III Defensive Player of the Year
• Chosen as the Division III Southwest District Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and 2021
• Started at linebacker, running back, kick returner and punt returner
• Amassed 1,442 all-purpose yards (667 rushing, 397 receiving) and nine touchdowns on the offensive side of the ball
• Is the son of Tiffane Hardin
HONORS & AWARDS
2025: Academic all-Big Ten Conference
