Penn State football cornerback Daequan Hardy announced his declaration for the 2024 NFL Draft Thursday, but he will play in the 2023 Peach Bowl later this month.

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— Big DaeDae (@DaequanHardy) December 21, 2023

“I want to thank Coach Franklin, Coach Terry, staff and players for making my time here at Penn State special and unforgettable,” Hardy wrote. “I poured my heart on the field [and] made relationships that will last a lifetime. This place will be forever etched in my heart.”

“With that being said, after a lot of thought & prayers, I will be forgoing my remaining year of eligibility and declaring for the 2024 NFL draft. I am excited to take the field one last time with my brothers in the Peach Bowl,” he continued.

Hardy spent five years as a Nittany Lion beginning in 2019. Hailing from Pittsburgh’s Penn Hills High School as a three-star prospect, Hardy played in two games his freshman season.

However, he didn’t miss a game from 2020 until this past season against West Virginia, Delaware, and Michigan. Perhaps his most memorable moment was against UMass, when he scored two punt return touchdowns to become the first-ever player to do so in school history and the 25th FBS player to accomplish the feat since 2000.

The Pittsburgh native has 25 pass breakups, five interceptions, and three touchdowns through his five-year career. He joins a growing list of Nittany Lions that will play in the Peach Bowl despite declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft, including Curtis Jacobs, Theo Johnson, and Caedan Wallace.