Hardy Nickerson was drafted No. 122 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1987 NFL Draft out of California. 225 regular-season games · 14 seasons as a starter · 97 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #122
- Round
- 5
- Draft class
- 1987
- NFL games
- 225
- Years as starter
- 14
- Career AV
- 974th at California
- Pro Bowls
- 5
- All-Pro
- 2
The pick
How Hardy Nickerson came off the board in 1987.
- Position
- Linebacker LB
- College
-
California
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
225 regular-season games · 14 seasons as a starter · 97 career approximate value
- Games played
- 225
- Seasons as a starter
- 14
- Career approximate value
- 974th among California picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 2021% of career value
- Final season
- 200215 years after the draft
- Accolades
- 2× All-Pro · 5× Pro Bowl
Around pick 122
Who came off the board on either side of Hardy Nickerson.
Oklahoma
Tulsa
Alcorn State
Texas
California in the 1987 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other LB picks from California
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Hardy Nickerson in the 1987 NFL Draft
Hardy Nickerson is a Linebacker out of California selected No. 122 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1987 NFL Draft. 225 regular-season games · 14 seasons as a starter · 97 career approximate value California has produced 138 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Hardy Nickerson drafted?
Hardy Nickerson was selected No. 122 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1987 NFL Draft (Rd 5). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1987/hardy-nickerson.
What college did Hardy Nickerson play for?
Hardy Nickerson played college football at California in the ACC. See every California draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/california-golden-bears.
How did Hardy Nickerson's NFL career turn out?
225 regular-season games · 14 seasons as a starter · 97 career approximate value Accolades: 2× All-Pro · 5× Pro Bowl. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1987/hardy-nickerson.