Ahmad Hardy

Hardy came out of nowhere to win the starting running back job at Louisiana-Monroe as a true freshman, and then he shocked the nation again by rushing 237 times for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns. He finished with the 12th-most rushing yards in the country. Hardy will look to up the expectations once again in 2025, as he's slated to serve as the top tailback for Missouri as a sophomore. The Tigers used two running backs last season in Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll - both of whom also transferred in from the Sun Belt Conference - and the duo combined for 303 carries, 1,413 yards and 15 touchdowns. Both Noel and Carroll graduated, leaving sophomore Jamal Roberts and freshman Marquise Davis as Hardy's biggest competition for touches. Given the lack of quality alternative options, Hardy should be in line for a workhorse role as a sophomore. Read Past Outlooks