Ahmad Hardy feature: One of the best running backs in the nation

There are many people responsible for Missouri’s improvement this season. Penn State transfer quarterback Beau Pribula and Mississippi State transfer wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. have made a major impact on offense.

In addition, West Virginia transfer linebacker Josiah Trotter, Georgia transfer defensive end Damon Wilson II, and UNLV transfer safety Jalen Catalon have all significantly bolstered the team’s defense.

However, no player has left more of an impact on the field for the Tigers than Louisiana-Monroe transfer running back Ahmad Hardy. Hardy has taken the SEC by storm, and he’s continuing to prove he should be in the conversation for the best ball carrier in the nation.

Hardy’s 2024 Season

Hardy dominated the Sun Belt in 2024 for the Warhawks, rushing for 1,357 yards and 13 touchdowns as a true freshman.

He would have two highlight performances, breaking through for 200-plus rushing yards in two conference matchups.

Current Impact for the Tigers

Even with his success in the Group of Five, Hardy knew he needed to move up in competition to truly display his translatable talent. He decided to take the jump into the SEC when he signed with the Missouri Tigers.

Protected by a great offensive line led by junior Cayden Green, Hardy, along with Pribula have reshaped the way teams view the Tigers. Missouri has not only become more competitive, but it’s also become a playoff contender with Hardy’s presence in the run game.

Hardy has rushed for 730 yards and nine touchdowns on the season through just five games. With his addition, junior running mate Jamal Roberts has taken a leap from his sophomore to junior season, adding 350 yards and three touchdowns to the Tigers’ rushing attack.

Future Prospect Outlook

Through five games so far, Hardy has already accumulated his best statline of his two-year collegiate career, running for 250 yards and three touchdowns in a convincing 52-10 victory over Louisiana, a familiar Sun Belt opponent.

He followed his Week 3 performance with an even more impressive 138-yard performance in a narrow 29-20 Week 4 win against South Carolina to earn their first conference win of 2025.

As the Tigers inch into conference play, it will be a true test against the team’s 5-0 record and Hardy’s true potential as a future NFL prospect.

Hardy leads the nation in rushing as the only ball carrier with over 700 yards on the season, and he’ll have a great chance to prove his rightful position at the top. No. 14 Missouri will face their toughest opponent yet this upcoming weekend in No. 8 Alabama.

Experts talk about the backfield duos at Notre Dame and Penn State, but Hardy has been an efficient one-man wrecking crew, slowly cementing himself as the top running back prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Owen Daszko is a second-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email him at opd5073@psu.edu.