Ahmad Hardy Joins Mizzou Elite as Consensus First-Team All-American
Ahmad Hardy’s breakout season just got the national stamp of approval. Missouri’s sophomore running back has officially been named a consensus first-team All-American - a distinction that puts him in rare company, both within the SEC and in Mizzou history.
The honor became official Tuesday when Hardy was selected to the AFCA FBS Coaches First-Team All-American squad. That marked his third first-team nod from the five NCAA-recognized selectors, joining earlier honors from the Associated Press and Walter Camp.
With two more still to be announced - the Football Writers Association of America and Sporting News - Hardy remains in the running to be a unanimous All-American. But even as it stands, he’s now part of an exclusive club.
Hardy becomes just the 15th consensus All-American in Missouri football history, and the first Tiger to earn the AFCA first-team nod since Shane Ray did it back in 2014. That’s not just a big deal - it’s a legacy moment.
A Record-Breaking Season in the Making
Hardy’s numbers speak for themselves. He’s racked up 1,560 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns heading into Missouri’s Gator Bowl matchup against Virginia.
And he’s not done yet. With just 68 more rushing yards, he’ll break the school’s single-season rushing record - a mark set just last year by Cody Schrader, another consensus All-American.
What makes Hardy’s performance even more jaw-dropping is how he’s doing it. According to Pro Football Focus, Hardy has piled up 1,111 rushing yards after contact this season.
That’s more than the total rushing yards of all but 11 running backs in the country. In other words: defenders are getting to him - they just aren’t bringing him down.
And he’s not just padding stats against weaker competition. Hardy led the entire SEC in rushing, finishing 281 yards ahead of Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy. That kind of dominance in college football’s toughest conference is no small feat.
From Transfer to Star
Hardy’s road to stardom didn’t start in Columbia. The Oma, Mississippi native transferred to Missouri from Louisiana-Monroe this past offseason, and it didn’t take long for him to make his presence felt. He quickly became the engine of the Tigers’ offense and a nightmare for opposing defenses.
His performance earned him a spot as one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation’s top running back. The award ultimately went to Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, but Hardy’s inclusion in that final group speaks volumes about the respect he’s earned on the national stage.
Looking Ahead
The good news for Missouri fans? Hardy is only a sophomore - and not yet eligible for the NFL Draft. That means he can return to Columbia next season, where he’ll have a chance to build on an already stellar legacy.
On the other side of the experience spectrum is right tackle Keagan Trost, the only other Missouri player to earn All-American recognition this postseason. Trost picked up third-team honors from the AP and second-team honors from the AFCA. A seventh-year senior, Trost is out of eligibility and will likely begin preparing for the NFL Draft after the Gator Bowl.
But for now, all eyes are on Dec. 27 in Jacksonville. Hardy has a shot to etch his name into the Missouri record books with one more big performance - and if this season has been any indication, betting against him wouldn’t be wise.
Ahmad Hardy isn’t just having a great year - he’s putting together one of the best seasons a Mizzou running back has ever had. And the country is starting to take notice.