Picture this: Ole Miss on cover of SI for first time since 1970

Josh McNeil talks about his SI debut

OXFORD, Miss. - If you would have asked Ole Miss defensive end Greg Hardy two years ago what it feels like to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated, he undoubtedly would have given you a brash, borderline cocky response.

Fast foward to Tuesday evening, when the junior pass-rusher extraordinaire had a much different tone. A humble tone. A modest tone.

''I just found out right before I came to practice,'' Hardy said. ''It's an exciting thing. I've just got to be thankful and appreciative to all the people that helped me get there.''

Meet the new Greg Hardy, who has spent the last year not only transforming himself into one of the most feared pass-rushers in college football, but more importantly becoming a better, more mature person off the field as well.

Hardy, who had 2 1/2 tackles-for-loss and 1 1/2 sacks in the Rebels' 31-30 upset at then fourth-ranked Florida Saturday, is pictured on the upcoming Sports Illustrated preparing to hit Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. It's the first time Ole Miss has been featured on the SI cover since Sept. 14, 1970, when quarterback Archie Manning appeared on the cover.

There was a time when Hardy would have relished in that kind of attention. Now, the only thing that drives the former Briarcrest Christian star is helping Ole Miss (3-2, 1-1 in SEC) win games.

Hardy made a name for himself on the field as a sophomore when the coaches made him a first team, all-SEC performer after he racked up 18 tackles-for-loss, including 10 sacks, in 10 games. His breakout moment was in a nationally televised game against Alabama in which he had 13 tackles, nine solos, five tackles-for-loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles.

He also made a name for himself when he didn't play in two games after being disciplined by former coach Ed Orgeron for missing team functions. Hardy has since worked hard to improve in both areas.

It started with meeting his new defensive line coach, Tracy Rocker, who said despite hearing of Hardy's troubles, he came to Ole Miss with an open mind.

''I asked how old are you?,'' Rocker said. ''He was only 19. He's still a kid. Everybody thinks he ought to act like a grown man, but he's still a kid. I work with kids."

While at Arkansas last year, Rocker saw on film what a beast Hardy was for opposing lineman to contain. And while he knew it was his job to further develop his football skills, it was Hardy the person that Rocker was most interested in developing. In doing so, Rocker gave Hardy very few, if any, options when it came to football. It was Rocker's way, or no way.

''The thing is people have a misconception that he's a bad person,'' Rocker said. ''He's not a bad person. He's a good person. He's well-mannered and all that. ... We don't have an option playing football. You either do it right or we get beat, so there's no option out here. So we have to teach that.

''He does what I ask him to do. He tries to be coached. He plays hard. I never question his effort. Football-wise, I never question anything. But it's more to it than football to me. As a coach, I'm all about what are you going to do when this is over with? That's what I want to leave with him so when this is over with, he can call back 10 years from now and say, 'Hey man, I appreciate it.' That's the way I was raised and it's my job to pass it on.''

Hardy said last year's incidents were blown out of proportion, that there was never any rift between him, Orgeron, or any of the previous coaching staff.

''Me and all my coaches were cool,'' he said.

Hardy, now 20, missed the first three games after suffering a stress fracture in his right foot during the preseason.

Hardy, who still had his right foot heavily taped Tuesday, said he hopes to be at full strength when the Rebels host South Carolina (3-2, 0-2) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

''There's a lot more to come in the story of Greg Hardy,'' Hardy said.