On Thursday morning, ESPN released its SEC spring football preview, highlighting the key storylines, positions of interest, and players to watch for all 16 SEC teams.
One of the most intriguing teams in the conference continues to be Missouri, which remained in College Football Playoff contention for a while last season. Though they fell short of the Playoff, the Tigers still secured a second consecutive double-digit win season, finishing 10-3 in 2024. Heading into his 6th season, Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz is motivated to push the Tigers to the next level and make the Playoff. But how can they achieve this goal, and which player might help lead the way?
According to ESPN’s Chris Low, the player to watch for Mizzou heading into spring camp is running back Ahmad Hardy. Hardy, who joins the Tigers from ULM, had an impressive freshman season in the Group of 5, rushing for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was particularly effective after contact. Alongside returning back Jamal Roberts, Hardy is expected to be a key part of Mizzou’s offensive attack under Drinkwitz.
While Hardy faces the challenge of transitioning his success from Louisiana-Monroe to the SEC, his performance could be crucial in the Tigers’ pursuit of another double-digit-win season. If he can make a significant impact alongside Roberts, Mizzou could finally secure that elusive Playoff berth in 2025.
