Ahmad Hardy RB Missouri |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #29 ROLE: Work-Horse Back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.59 seconds (40%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #29 | |
| ROLE: Work-Horse Back | |
| Last Updated: 11/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.59 seconds (40%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
86.0 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
|
78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Rushing: |
|
89% |
| Break Tackles: |
|
96% |
| Receiving/Hands: |
|
51% |
| Pass Blocking: |
|
78% |
| Run Blocking: |
|
51% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
2nd - Early
Overall Rank:
#36
Position rank:
#2 (RB)
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| College Games: 26 College Snaps: 902 | ||
247 RATING: 84/100
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| DeWayne McBride - UAB |
|
73% |
| Jaylen Wright - Tennessee |
|
67% |
| Tyrone Tracy Jr. - Purdue |
|
65% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Ahmad Hardy ran for 2,442 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior at Lawrence County High School in Monticello, Mississippi, but he was lightly recruited and went to Louisiana-Monroe. As a freshman in 2024 he carried 238 times for 1,346 yards and 13 touchdowns, the most rushing yards by any FBS freshman, and was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year.Hardy transferred to Missouri in December 2024 and set the school's single-season rushing record in 2025 with 1,648 yards and 16 touchdowns, leading the SEC. He ran for 250 yards and three touchdowns against Louisiana and 300 yards and three scores against Mississippi State, the third-highest total in SEC history, and he forced 97 missed tackles. He was a consensus All-American, the SEC Newcomer of the Year and a Doak Walker Award finalist.
In May 2026 Hardy was shot in the upper leg at an outdoor concert in Laurel, Mississippi. He had surgery, was released from the hospital and was medically cleared by July, and he was the victim in the incident. Eli Drinkwitz held him out of the opener, saying it was in his best interest, and he did not play through October. He returned to practice late in the month and was expected to make his season debut with a handful of carries at Arkansas on 31 October, but there is no record of him playing in that game.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Consensus All-American who set Missouri's single-season rushing record
- Ran for 300 yards and three touchdowns against Mississippi State in 2025
- Forced 97 missed tackles in 2025, one of the highest totals in the country
- Contact balance that keeps him upright through arm tackles
- Back-to-back seasons with more than 1,300 yards at two levels
- Willing, dependable pass protector for a volume back
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Has not played in 2026 after being shot in the leg in May
- Receiving game is almost absent, with six catches in 2025
- Average speed for a back whose profile is built on breakaway runs
- No 2026 game film for teams to evaluate so far
Scouting Report: Summary
Hardy was the most productive pure runner in the SEC in 2025, a violent, balanced back who set Missouri's single-season rushing record with 1,648 yards and 16 touchdowns and was a consensus All-American. His 300-yard day against Mississippi State is one of the best single-game performances in conference history, and he forced 97 missed tackles, one of the highest totals in the country. He has now stacked two 1,300-yard seasons at two levels, and his pass protection is reliable. He was also the most productive freshman runner in FBS at Louisiana-Monroe in 2024, with 1,346 yards.However, two football questions and one bigger one shape the file. The receiving column is nearly empty, six catches all season, which removes a down from his game in the modern NFL until he proves otherwise, and his speed is only average for a back who produced so many long runs against college angles. The bigger question is health. He was shot in the upper leg in May 2026 and had surgery, and while he was cleared by July, Missouri held him out through October. He returned to practice late in the month, but there is no 2026 film for teams to study.
Eli Drinkwitz has said Hardy is doing everything he can and believes he will come back better than before. If he plays in November and shows the same burst and contact balance, the conversation around him will change quickly. If he does not, teams will be projecting him from his 2025 tape and the medical reports.
Overall, on tape alone Hardy is the most punishing pure runner in the class, though the limited passing-down role is real. He projects as a second-round running back and an early-down workhorse, health permitting, with three-down upside resting on the passing game. His contact balance and pass protection give him a clear early role.
Update - 11/03/2026
Hardy has not played this season after being shot in the leg in May, and has a metal rod in his femur. He was a full participant in Missouri's practice on 26 October, but Eli Drinkwitz has given no timeline for his return.
How other scouting services rate Ahmad Hardy (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
37.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
3.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.