Why a newcomer could be the perfect fit for Mizzou Tigers’ running back position

Since arriving in Columbia, Eli Drinkwitz has made one thing clear: If you’re a running back, Missouri is a place you can thrive.

From Larry Rountree III’s steady production to Tyler Badie’s 1,604-yard breakout in 2021 and Cody Schrader’s record-setting All-America campaign in 2023, Mizzou has become a destination for tailbacks to flourish.

The Tigers rushed for 26 touchdowns last season, the most in the Drinkwitz era, with Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll leading a ground game built for both consistency and explosive plays.

That tradition now turns to Ahmad Hardy, a sophomore transfer hoping to follow in the lineage of backs leaving their mark at MU.

Hardy arrives from Louisiana-Monroe after a standout freshman year. He rushed for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns on 237 carries (5.7 yards per carry), breaking tackles at a nearly nation-leading rate and showing flashes of the kind of runner Mizzou has built its identity around.

“Ahmad’s a one-cut guy. He fits what we want to do on the edge,” Drinkwitz said during spring practice. “He’s explosive, he’s patient and he knows how to find the lane.”

Hardy’s arrival isn’t just about replacing production. It’s a seamless schematic match.

The Tigers’ ground game is built around outside-zone concepts, designed to give runners time to read the defense laterally before bursting vertically. It rewards vision, footwork and decisiveness — all traits Hardy showcased at ULM.

Last season, Hardy averaged 6.1 yards per carry on runs designed to hit outside the tackle, with 79.4% of his attempts coming on zone-based concepts, according to Pro Football Focus.

He forced 94 missed tackles — third most in the FBS behind only Ashton Jeanty of Boise State and Cam Skattebo of Arizona State — and finished with more than 1,000 yards after contact, joining an elite group of just seven backs nationally to clear that mark.

“We (Missouri) run outside zone like I did at my old school,” Hardy said in the spring. “So I feel like I’m perfecting my craft with my forceful running.”

Offensive coordinator Kirby Moore echoed that confidence, praising Hardy’s feel for the position.

“He’s a natural in space,” Moore said. “Strong lower half, really good contact balance, and he doesn’t waste movement.”

That combination of vision and efficiency aligns perfectly with a scheme that has long emphasized zone-based rushing. It’s the same system that helped Schrader lead the SEC in rushing in 2023 and powered the program to its most rushing touchdowns in a decade last season.

Up front, Mizzou’s offensive line will feature some new faces in 2025, but there is optimism about the group’s athleticism and fit for the outside-zone approach.

Returning starter Cayden Green, who played both tackle and guard last year, is expected to anchor the left side and step into a leadership role alongside center Connor Tollison.

The Tigers emphasized mobility and lateral quickness in their offseason additions, bringing in transfers Keagan Trost (Wake Forest), Johnny Williams IV (West Virginia) and Dominick Giudice (Michigan).

If the new group can build chemistry early, the system should continue to stretch defenses horizontally and create the same kinds of cutback lanes Hardy capitalized on at ULM.

With a first-year starting quarterback and the departure of several key wide receivers, including top playmaker Luther Burden III to the NFL, MU may lean even more heavily on the run game in 2025.

At 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, Hardy brings a compact, physical presence to the backfield. He’s the kind of downhill runner Mizzou lacked in key moments last season. His ability to finish runs and wear down defenses should give the Tigers a consistent late-game option.

Hardy has produced at every level. At Lawrence County High School in Monticello, Mississippi, he rushed for more than 2,400 yards as a senior. At ULM, he was named Sun Belt Freshman of the Year and posted eight 100-yard games, including a career-high 214 yards and three touchdowns against Southern Miss.

Still, the jump from the Sun Belt to the Southeastern Conference is significant, and Hardy understands he still has something to prove — a mindset welcomed with open arms at Mizzou.

“Every day, I’ve got to come out and earn it,” Hardy said. “Nobody’s giving anything away here. It’s a different level, but I came here because I wanted that.”

Hardy is the favorite to take the first snap come August, but the Tigers have depth behind him. Redshirt sophomore Jamal Roberts, who scored the game-winning touchdown in Mizzou’s 21–17 win over Auburn on Oct. 19, remains in the mix, along with freshman Marquise Davis and redshirt junior Tavorus Jones.

While Hardy brings the vision and explosiveness MU covets in its feature back, the staff will likely rely on Roberts on passing downs. Roberts quietly emerged as one of the Tigers’ most dependable pass blockers last season. His ability to pick up blitzes and stabilize protection helped keep the offense on schedule, especially in late-game and third-down situations. That trust will keep him involved as Hardy continues to grow.

Missouri rotated three backs in 2024, and Moore would love to do the same this season.

“We want to keep guys fresh,” Moore said. “But you can see Hardy’s instincts. He makes the most of every rep.”

While his pass-catching and blocking still need development, Hardy’s physical tools and proven production suggest he’s ready for SEC play. His footwork and decision-making within the outside-zone scheme give him a valuable head start.

“When you’ve had the kind of backs we’ve had here,” Drinkwitz said, “you don’t just want to replace them — you want to build off them. Ahmad gives us a chance to do that.”

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