Lawrence Central’s Reid Hardin Named to Indianapolis Colts Indiana High School Academic All-Star Team
Writers / Laila Abdurraqib and Tre Davis
Photography Provided
On November 28, Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics presented the Indianapolis Colts Indiana High School Academic All-Star Team. This year marks the 25th year of this academic and athletic honor. The team consists of senior football players who work hard on the field, but are also exceptional in the classroom.
Lawrence Central’s very own Reid Hardin was selected as an all-star this year. Hardin is a third-year starter for the Bears football team, and one of their most prominent leaders on and off the field during the 2023-2024 season.
This year Hardin hit career highs in many statistics with 30 solo tackles, 23 assisted tackles and three sacks. He continues to show leadership on and off the field, playing defensive end. He had an amazing senior season.
Hardin was not only a weapon on the field, but he was also a force in the classroom. With an outstanding 4.5 grade point average, he is one of the top academic students at Lawrence Central.
Hardin has been playing football since he was an adolescent. “My father played at Purdue in college, and he was always talking about it,” he says. “It really started with him and just watching football on TV.”
Hardin was not always a Bear though. After his freshman year, he made the decision to transfer from Lawrence North to Lawrence Central. His coaching staff and teammates speak very highly of him.
“It’s recognition for what I’ve been working for,” Hardin says of the Academic All-Star Team. “I value academics, athletics and football the most in my life. it represents my values and what I’ve been working for. It’s been instilled in me at a young age from my parents. I guess I get it from them.”
With collegiate football in mind, Hardin is still trying to figure out what the future holds for him.
“I want to go to college and I want to play football in college, and just excel like I am now, just on a larger stage,” he says. “That’s what I’m going to do.”
With the Bears season cut short by a tough sectional loss to their rival Lawrence North, the loss was a gateway for Hardin to capitalize on his success, on the field and in the classroom.
Hardin is the only player at Lawrence Central to receive this prestigious recognition. His peers look at him very highly and have only great things to say about him.
“It’s a great accomplishment for Reid and his family,” says Lawrence Central Principal Franklyn Bush. “It shows that they have complete dedication on the academic side. It’s our responsibility to make sure we provide the opportunities and the access to all of our kids, and kids like Reid and others take advantage of it. It just shows that anything is possible.”
The future is very bright for Hardin, we are excited to watch him excel and become the best version of himself.
Comments 1
VERY proud of my Grandson for all his hard work with his team and his success in the Class Room.