Missouri tailback Ahmad Hardy had one of the best rushing seasons in Mizzou history in 2025, setting a program single-season rushing record with 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns while recording seven 100-yard rushing games and a healthy 6.44 yards per carry. In the process he became just the sixth player in SEC history to rush for 300 yards in a single game in an 49-27 victory over Mississippi State.
Hardy also led the nation in yards after contact, and perhaps most jaw-dropping averaged 7.10 yards per carry
in the second half of games, perennially getting stronger as the game wore on. His breakout season earned him consensus All-America honors, including First Team recognition from the AP, Walter Camp Foundation, AFCA, and Sporting News,. And he was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award.
Preseason expectations remain sky-high for the 5’10, 206 pound junior. Hardy was voted to the 2026 Preseason All-SEC First Team, cementing his status as the top running back in the conference, and probably the nation
In a perfect world Ahmad Hardy would probably be the top player on this list. Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world. Hardy is recovering from an offseason gunshot wound sustained while attending a concert in his hometown, but the official line from Columbia remains that Hardy will be ready to suit up for Missouri in 2026. Tiger coach Eliah Drinkwitz conceded recently however that Hardy won’t be available for Mizzou’s opener, and he’s not 100% certain when this season Hardy will return.
I expect he will be back by the time Missouri comes to Sanford Stadium on November 14th. But will he be 100%? I’m not entirely certain. Even if he isn’t, Hardy is a big, tough back who sheds tacklers and keeps the Tiger offense out of bad situations by being hard to take down in the backfield. Without him the Black and Gold aren’t quite the same team. But if he’s back and rested up when the team comes to Athens Hardy may be one of the two best tailbacks Georgia faces all season.
Go ‘Dawgs!!!
