Here’s who is likely to leave, who can return and how we see Missouri football’s running back room shaping up next season.
On Friday night, Missouri football will learn if it fielded the nation’s best running back in 2025.
Ahmad Hardy is one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, which is given to the nation’s top tailback each year. Then-Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty, a first-round draft pick this year, won the honor in 2024.
Hardy is going up against Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, a St. Louis native, and Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy, a Mizzou transfer who spent his freshman year in Columbia, for this year’s trophy.
There’s a real chance Hardy becomes the first Mizzou tailback to win the award Friday, Dec. 12. He leads the SEC with 1,560 rushing yards. He’s 68 bowl-game rushing yards from breaking Cody Schrader’s single-season Mizzou rushing record, set in 2023. Hardy has more after-contact rushing yards, 1,111, than all but 10 running backs across the country have total yards.
The best news for Missouri? He’s a sophomore and can do it all again in 2026.
Here’s what you need to know about Missouri football’s running backs entering the offseason, including who is likely to leave, who can return, whether or not the Tigers will be active in the transfer portal at this position and more:
Who is graduating, heading to the NFL, or transferring?
Two Missouri running backs have already announced their intention to enter the transfer portal, which will officially open for new entries Jan. 2. Brendon Haygood and Marquise Davis, both true freshmen, look likely to transfer out of the program this season.
There seems to be a reason the rookies are leaving. Mizzou’s top two tailbacks from 2025 are eligible, and likely, to return.
Who can return in 2026, who is in freshman class?
All class classifications are based on how players will be listed in 2026.
Eligible returners: Ahmad Hardy, jr.; Jamal Roberts, sr.; Tavorus Jones, r-sr.
Class of 2026 signees: Maxwell Warner, fr.
Mizzou can return Hardy and Roberts, who combined for 2,257 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns this season. That has provided the bulk of the production in the nation’s No. 8 rushing offense.
Jones has been a career backup at Missouri and has one year of eligibility remaining.
After four-star prospect Terry Hodges flipped his commitment late to Arkansas in the 2026 recruiting cycle, Mizzou has one running back arriving in January as a true freshman: Warner, a Chicago native and three-star pledge.
What does Mizzou need to add?
Mizzou needs depth at running back.
Provided Hardy and Roberts return, which seems likely, then the Tigers have their No. 1 and No. 2 options in place. That’s as good a returning one-two punch as you'll find anywhere in the country.
But, four total players — including one true freshman — isn’t enough. Injuries happen.
We’d expect the Tigers to chase a depth option in the transfer portal. Maybe Mizzou goes after someone who can compete for reps, but it seems like their portal focus would be best served elsewhere on the roster.
Running back 2025 season grade: A
This is the easiest grade on the team.
Hardy is maybe the nation’s best running back. Roberts exceeded all preseason expectations.
Mizzou running backs coach Curtis Luper deserves some serious credit. There is a very good chance the Tigers’ single-season rushing record gets set for the third time in five seasons this year. That’s remarkable.
Prediction for next season. What will room look like?
Starter: Ahmad Hardy; RB2: Jamal Roberts
Backups: Transfer; Tavorus Jones; Maxwell Warner
Unless anything unexpected happens, this is a fairly straightforward projection.
There’s a clear top two for 2026, and depth becomes the only question for the Tigers in January.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Grading Missouri football’s running backs, predicting 2026 outlook
Category: General Sports
