Bears draft OSU's Brandon Hardin

By OSU Media Services Published: Apr 27, 2012 at 10:33 PM PDT
Bears draft OSU's Brandon Hardin
Arizona's Nic Grigsby (5) out runs the reach of Oregon State's Brandon Hardin (17) in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010. Oregon State won, 29 - 27. (AP Photo/Wily Low)

Former Oregon State cornerback Brandon Hardin has been drafted with the 16th pick in the 3rd round (79th overall) by the Chicago Bears on Friday in the 2012 National Football League Draft.

The Honolulu native earned four letters while making 15 career starts, including all 12 games of the 2010 season. He finished his career at OSU with 105 tackles with four forced fumbles, seven pass break-ups, one quarterback sack, one interception and one blocked kick.

Hardin, who missed the entire 2011 season due to a shoulder injury, was a cornerback at OSU but is expected to play safety for the Bears. It is the earliest selection for an OSU defensive back since Keenan Lewis went to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round in 2009, also in the third round (96th overall).

It is the second year in a row, and fourth time in the last five years, that the Bears have drafted a former Oregon State player. Hardin will join former teammate and 2011 second-rounder Stephen Paea. In addition, the Bears selected former OSU safety Al Afalava in the sixth round in 2009 and took linebacker Joey LaRocque in the seventh round in 2008.