Byron Hardmon

Hardmon was born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1981. Hardmon earned the nickname "Bam Bam" in his youth and it was later shortened to "Bam". He attended Edward H. White High School in Jacksonville, and played high school football for the Ed White Commanders. Hardmon was an all-state and prep All-American who was selected to play in the Georgia-Florida High School All-Star Game at the Georgia Dome in June 1999. == College career ==

Hardmon received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he played for coach Steve Spurrier and coach Ron Zook's Gators teams from 1999 to 2002. He was a mainstay of the Gators' defense from 2000 to 2002, appearing in 12 games for the 2000 team that was ranked No. 10 in the final AP poll, 11 games for the 2001 team that was ranked No. 3 in the final AP poll, and 13 games for the 2002 that was ranked No. 24 in the final Coaches Poll. Prior to his senior year, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel wrote that Hardmon and fellow senior Mike Nattiel "appear to have the talent, the experience and – finally – the maturity to lead Florida's defense." Hardmon established himself as a team captain on defense in 2002, as he led the team with 169 tackles and also had two forced fumbles and an interception. At the end of the 2002 season, the USA Today described Hardmon and Nattiel as the anchors of the Gators defense. Following his senior season, he received the Gators' Fergie Ferguson Award, recognizing the "senior football player who displays outstanding leadership, character and courage." == Professional career ==

He was signed by the Miami Dolphins in April 2003, In the spring of 2004, Hardmon signed with the Hamburg Sea Devils in the NFL Europa. He was also named Defensive Player of the Week in Week 5 of the 2007 NFL Europa season, after he led Hamburg to a victory over the Amsterdam Admirals with a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown, four tackles, a sack, a quarterback hurry and two pass defenses. == References ==