The Missouri Tigers are closing out 2025 with some serious hardware - and some well-earned national recognition. Two of Mizzou’s standout performers, running back Ahmad Hardy and right tackle Keagen Trost, have been named to the Associated Press All-America teams, with Hardy earning a coveted first-team nod and Trost securing a spot on the third team.
Let’s start with Hardy - and really, where else could you begin? The sophomore transfer exploded onto the SEC scene this season, living up to every bit of the hype that followed him from Louisiana Monroe.
In just his second year of college football, Hardy racked up 1,560 rushing yards and found the end zone 16 times, averaging a blistering 6.5 yards per carry. That’s not just production - that’s dominance.
Hardy didn’t just meet expectations; he hurdled over them. After a freshman campaign that saw him rush for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns, there was plenty of buzz when he hit the transfer portal.
Once he landed in Columbia, he wasted no time proving he belonged on the national stage. Hardy led the country with 130 rushing yards per game and delivered one of the season’s signature performances - a jaw-dropping 300-yard outing against Mississippi State that etched his name into the Mizzou record books.
That kind of output earned him SEC Newcomer of the Year honors and a unanimous first-team All-SEC selection. Now, he adds another accolade to the shelf: first-team AP All-American.
He becomes just the second running back in Mizzou history to earn that honor, joining Cody Schrader, the former walk-on turned All-American in 2023. That’s elite company - and Hardy’s just getting started.
On the other side of the ball - or more accurately, paving the way for Hardy’s monster season - Keagen Trost quietly put together one of the best years of any offensive lineman in the country. The Tigers’ right tackle was a rock all season long, anchoring the line with consistency and power.
According to a Mizzou Athletics release, Trost was Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded offensive lineman in the nation, regardless of position. That’s a serious badge of honor in a league stacked with trench talent.
Trost allowed just two sacks all season and was also recognized as a first-team All-SEC selection. While the AP slotted him on the third team nationally, the Walter Camp Football Foundation named him a second-team All-American - further proof that his efforts didn’t go unnoticed.
This marks a return to national prominence for Mizzou’s roster after a quieter 2024 on the All-America front. The Tigers didn’t have any AP All-Americans last season, but 2023 saw a strong showing with Schrader, Luther Burden (second team), Kris Abrams-Draine (second team), and Javon Foster (third team) all earning recognition.
Now, with Hardy and Trost leading the way, the Tigers are looking to cap the season on a high note. After finishing the regular season 8-4, they’ll take on Virginia in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Saturday, Dec.
- Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m.
Central at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, with the game airing on ABC.
Two All-Americans. A bowl game on deck.
And a program that continues to build momentum. Mizzou’s got plenty to feel good about heading into the postseason.