The situation involving Mizzou’s All-American running back Ahmad Hardy remains unclear. He’ll likely play this coming season, but the return timeline is wide.
Hardy isn’t practicing in the first week of fall camp, but he is continuing rehab and has been present for walkthroughs. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz said that another update could come in “maybe two weeks.” The Tigers’ first game is 30 days away, giving Hardy minimal time to get back to game speed.
In the meantime, the backfield will be led by Jamal
Roberts. He accumulated 753 rushing yards on over six yards per carry while also being Mizzou’s leading pass-catching back. Roberts is expected to see an increased role at least in the first few games, even if Hardy is active, but that doesn’t mean that the one-two punch will disappear from the run game.
FCS transfer Xai’Shaun Edwards came to the Tigers this offseason knowing he’d at least start as RB3 on the depth chart. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining, and with the tragic injury to Hardy, he has an opportunity to stake his claim for touches.
Roberts mentioned a fierce competition in the running back room through the spring and summer at fall camp media day. He’s the leader of the pack for the time being, but he’s noticed Edwards’ potential.
“He’s gonna run the ball this season. He’s definitely a good ball runner,” Roberts said. “He’s got a lot of good football knowledge, and he’s gonna be a good addition for our backfield.”
Edwards rushed for 1,019 yards and 12 touchdowns along with 18 catches for 106 yards as a redshirt freshman at Houston Christian. On top of that, he didn’t fumble the ball a single time last season and his 5.3 yards per attempt is very comparable to starting running backs in the SEC. He’s listed at 5-foot-9, 175lbs, but allegedly put on around 15 pounds this offseason. He also runs an unofficial 4.46 40-yard-dash. Physically, he’s a lot smaller than Hardy or Roberts, but his speed and contact balance were impressive at the FCS level.
It seems certain that Edwards will play a role for this team. Whether that’s solely as a backup running back to complement Roberts until Hardy gets back to 100% or as a consistent rusher throughout the season, he seems to be focused on making any contribution he can.
“I’m all about the Mizzou way. It’s not about my personal game,” Edwards said. “They can put me at any role they need me to be at to help them win a championship; that’s what I want to be about.”
Edwards’ impact could be large this season, but past trends indicate that the third running back has to wait his turn. In the Tigers’ first three games of last season – Central Arkansas, Louisiana and Kansas – three backs saw significant touches. Hardy totaled 57 carries, Roberts totaled 29 and Marquise Davis totaled 25.
It’s important to note that Davis took 20 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown against Louisiana and then only saw action against UMass for the rest of the season. It takes a lot for three running backs to be relied on consistently in Mizzou’s offense. With new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey inserted, maybe that could change, but it’s unlikely. Few programs utilize more than two running backs.
Still, the first three games of the season are what Edwards could be eyeing to show his flashes for the future. Mizzou has Arkansas–Pine Bluff, Kansas and Troy on the schedule before a brutal nine-game conference schedule takes hold.
There’s still a chance for Edwards to contribute aside from the rushing game. He’s a more proven receiving back than Hardy, and his numbers last season were comparable to Roberts’. Edwards also took 10 kickoffs back for 289 yards last season, giving him a doorway to take a spot as a returner. The Tigers lost two of their four players who returned kicks last season to the transfer portal.
Even if Edwards’ role is limited entirely, there’s a good chance he sticks around for what appears to be a backfield up for grabs in the 2027-28 season. Curtis Luper’s track record with developing running backs was a key reason for his commitment despite there being more opportunities elsewhere.
“(Luper) definitely influenced me a lot because I’ve always wanted to be under a really great running backs coach,” Edwards said. “In our interactions, it’s something new every day. It’s fun to be around Coach Lupe and the running back group, because it’s a real brotherhood. We’re all proud of each other.”
Both Hardy and Roberts will have eligibility remaining after this season, but the appeal of the NFL or opportunities in the transfer portal will play a factor.
Edwards has a season to learn under two accomplished running backs and another offseason to put on weight and work on his physicals to compete against SEC defenses. And despite good numbers on paper last season, there were glaring inconsistencies from the young rusher.
There were four games where Edwards rushed for over 100 yards last season, including two over 170 yards, but there were also four games in which he averaged less than 3.4 yards per carry.
On a positive note, he rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries against Nebraska last season. The Huskers were Houston Christian’s lone FBS opponent. Most of Edwards’ inconsistencies could be contributed to tunnel vision, but also a poor offensive line. Houston Christian went 2-10 last season and its quarterbacks were sacked a combined 42 times.
Edwards seems patient for his time to come as a rusher at Mizzou, but special teams and the pass game is where he could make his mark this season. And until Hardy returns at full strength, the offense will need more than just Roberts to move the chains.
