Jared Bernhardt
refer to caption
Bernhardt in 2022
No. 83
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1997-09-12) September 12, 1997 (age 26)
Longwood, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Lake Brantley
(Altamonte Springs, Florida)
College:
Undrafted:2022
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Jared Bernhardt (born September 12, 1997) is an American former football wide receiver. He previously played college lacrosse at Maryland where he won the Tewaaraton Award as the nation's best player followed by one season of college football as quarterback at Ferris State. He is currently the director of player development for the University of Maryland men's lacrosse team.[1]

Early life and high school

Bernhardt grew up in Longwood, Florida. His father, Jim, was a football coach at Hofstra, Brown, Central Florida, and Penn State and was the director of football research for the Houston Texans. Bernhardt attended Lake Brantley High School, where he played football and lacrosse.[2] In football, he played quarterback in a triple-option offense and rushed 1,457 yards and 12 touchdowns and passed for 751 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games as a senior.[3] Bernhardt was an All-American midfielder in lacrosse at Lake Brantley and committed to play collegiately at the University of Maryland as a sophomore.[4]

College career

Bernhardt with Maryland in 2019

Bernhardt was a member of the Maryland Terrapins men's lacrosse team for five seasons. As a freshman, he was a starting midfielder on the Terrapins' 2017 national championship team.[5] His senior season was canceled after six games due to COVID-19.[6] Bernhardt returned for a fifth season and won the Tewaaraton Award as the nation's best collegiate lacrosse player.[7] He left Maryland as the school's career leader in goals with 202 and points with 290.[8]

Following the death of his father in 2019, Bernhardt decided that he would utilize the NCAA's "five to play four" rule, which allows athletes one year of eligibility in another sport after they have exhausted eligibility in their primary sport, and play college football.[9] He committed to play quarterback at Ferris State for the 2020 season, but the Division II football season was canceled due to COVID-19 and he stayed at Maryland for an additional season of lacrosse.[10] Bernhardt enrolled at Ferris State as a graduate transfer in the summer of 2021 and was named the team's starting quarterback.[11] In his only season of college football, Bernhardt passed for 1,322 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 1,421 yards and 26 touchdowns and was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year as the Bulldogs went 14–0 and won the 2021 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game.[12] In the game, he didn't attempt a pass and rushed 14 times for 148 yards and three touchdowns in the 58–17 win over Valdosta State.[13]

Professional football career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+1⁄8 in
(1.86 m) 		189 lb
(86 kg) 		31+1⁄4 in
(0.79 m) 		8+3⁄8 in
(0.21 m)		 4.71 s 1.61 s 2.70 s 4.21 s 6.90 s 32.0 in
(0.81 m)		 9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)		 6 reps
All values from Pro Day[14]

Bernhardt participated in Maryland's pro day on March 30, 2022.[15] On April 7, 2022, Bernhardt visited the Denver Broncos for a top-30 visit.[16]

Bernhardt was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2022, shortly after the conclusion of the 2022 NFL Draft.[17] He made the Falcons' initial 53-man roster out of training camp.[18] The highlight of that season was a game winning touchdown catch against the Detroit Lions during the preseason.[19] On October 22, 2022, Bernhardt was placed on injured reserve with a groin injury.[20]

Bernhardt announced his retirement from the NFL on May 22, 2023.[21]

Coaching career

On August 31, 2023, the University of Maryland men's lacrosse head coach John Tillman announced they had hired Bernhardt to be the programs director of player development for the University of Maryland lacrosse team. He joined a coaching staff that consisted of his two brothers, Jake and Jesse Bernhardt, although Jake would leave the position to become the head coach at Colby College.[1][22]

References

  1. ^ a b "Jared Bernhardt is Back in Lacrosse". www.usalaxmagazine.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  2. ^ "Bernhardt family keeps close despite distance created by athletic careers". Orlando Sentinel. August 19, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  3. ^ "Maryland lacrosse star Jared Bernhardt to play football at Ferris State". Baltimore Sun. May 18, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  4. ^ "Jared Bernhardt faces tough call: Maryland lacrosse or Navy football". Orlando Sentinel. May 12, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  5. ^ Kinnear, Matt (December 19, 2021). "Jared Bernhardt: Football and Lacrosse National Champion — 'He's So Extraordinary'". Inside Lacrosse. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  6. ^ Golden, Andrew (December 22, 2021). "Jared Bernhardt was a lacrosse star at Maryland. Now he's a championship quarterback". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  7. ^ "Jared Bernhardt of Maryland wins Tewaaraton Award". The Washington Post. June 5, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  8. ^ "Jared Bernhardt: From Maryland lacrosse to Ferris State QB". Detroit Free Press. November 6, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  9. ^ Wallner, Peter J. (May 21, 2020). "Why Ferris State? Maryland lacrosse star Jared Bernhardt explains switch to football". MLive.com. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  10. ^ "Chance to play quarterback convinced Maryland lacrosse standout Jared Bernhardt to commit to Division II Ferris State". Baltimore Sun. May 21, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  11. ^ DeCamp, Scott (September 10, 2021). "How national lacrosse player of year became all the buzz as Ferris State's new starting QB". MLive.com. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  12. ^ Tracy, Jeff (December 22, 2021). "Two-sport superstar carries Ferris State to perfect season". Axios. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  13. ^ "Jared Bernhardt, Ferris State complete undefeated football season with Division II crown". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 19, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  14. ^ "2022 NFL Draft Scout Jared Bernhardt College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  15. ^ "Jared Bernhardt Shows Off Versatility at Maryland Football Pro Day". USA Lacrosse Magazine. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  16. ^ "2022 NFL Draft: Broncos host former Maryland lacrosse star Jared Bernhardt for top-30 visit". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  17. ^ "Former Maryland lacrosse star Jared Bernhardt reportedly signs with Atlanta Falcons". Baltimore Sun. May 1, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  18. ^ "Former Maryland lacrosse star Jared Bernhardt makes Falcons' roster". The Washington Post. August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  19. ^ "Jared Bernhardt Game Winning Touchdown Catch". AtlantaFalcons.com. August 13, 2022.
  20. ^ Blair, Scott (October 22, 2022). "Falcons place receiver on IR, elevate defensive back from practice squad". Atlanta Falcons. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  21. ^ Flick, Daniel (May 22, 2023). "Breaking: Falcons WR Jared Bernhardt Placed on Retirement List". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  22. ^ "Dialed In: Your Lacrosse Fix for Monday, Nov. 20". www.usalaxmagazine.com. Retrieved November 20, 2023.

External links

2021 Ferris State Bulldogs football—NCAA Division II national champions
Tewaaraton Award
Categories