Welcome to the series, ‘What’s The Trend,‘ which highlights the biggest risers and fallers in the Mizzou Football world each week! After a SEC-opening Week 4 win against South Carolina, here are this week’s
trends.
On the Rise
Ahmad Hardy/Jamal Roberts
Ahmad Hardy and Mizzou’s run game continued their hot start to the season by running all over the Gamecocks to secure a Mayor’s Cup victory.
This felt like a given, the man is seriously in the Heisman talks now.
Hardy rushed for 138 yards on 6.3 YPC and found the end zone. His partner in crime, Jamal Roberts, also had a productive day, finishing with 76 yards and a touchdown on 5.8 YPC.
Mizzou’s run game hasn’t been stopped yet. Alabama should be a real test come Week 7.
Mizzou recruiting
It seems like Mizzou Football’s success on the field is leading to some big-time recruiting off the field. Mizzou Basketball has been on a tear thanks to a masterclass in recruiting from Dennis Gates. Not to mention a bunch of recruits came to Memorial Stadium and watched the Tigers handle business against South Carolina. Read more on those visits on Rock M+.
As long as the Tigers keep winning, recruiting seems to be trending in the right direction.
Jayven Richardson
After being a last second starter with the injury of Cayden Green, redshirt-junior Jayven Richardson had a great performance on the line Saturday, and was a key reason for Mizzou’s run success.
Richardson allowed only two pressures and zero sacks in 79 snaps of offense. That number more than doubles his season snap count. Preseason All American Dylan Stewart ended the game with zero sacks.
Green out is not ideal, but Missouri fans can breath a little knowing Richardson has the potential to get the job done.
On the Decline
Cayden Green
A last second scratch, junior Cayden Green underwent a medical procedure on Friday putting him out of the Tigers’ lineup for 3-5 weeks.
Green was one of Missouri’s brightest spots coming into the season. Expected to be a draft pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, the Lee Summit product was a rock on Mizzou’s dominant offensive line.
Not ideal to have Green out as SEC play ramps up, but times could be worse as UMass and a bye week is coming up. Ideally, the Tigers have him back by the time they match up against Alabama.
Mizzou’s pass coverage
Despite a big win at home on Saturday, the Tigers allowed over 300 yards passing to South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers. Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz wasn’t too pleased.
“When we watch the tape tomorrow, I’m going to be on some secondary coaches’ rear ends,” Drinkwitz said. “I’m not going to get negative, but that crap’s gotta get corrected.”
The Tigers allowed a total of 293 yards, with 302 coming in the pass game. Doesn’t sound right, right? Mizzou’s run defense held the Gamecocks to -9 rushing yards.
While the run game continues its dominance on both sides of the ball, Mizzou’s pass defense still has some work to take care of.
Future opponents
The SEC announced annual opponents for the next four years and Missouri has its hands full. The Tigers’ 2026 and 2027 schedules, on paper, look a lot tougher than Mizzou’s road this season. Having to go on the road to Georgia and Ole Miss in the same year is never fun.
Then again, this is what you sign up for by being part of such an elite league. Mizzou will have a rough road ahead but all the more opportunity for the Tigers to impress on the national scale.
