With the emergence of NIL, the transfer portal both giveth and taketh away, presenting opportunities for both gains and losses every day.
Over two days, the Missouri Tigers experienced a mix of said losses and gains—losing promising running back Kewan Lacy but rebounding just over 24 hours later by adding potential game-changer Ahmad Hardy, a transfer from Louisiana-Monroe.
On Monday morning, Mizzou learned that soon-to-be sophomore running back Kewan Lacy had entered the transfer portal. Reportedly, this came just days after Lacy had informed coaches of his plans to return next season. Within eight hours, Lacy announced his commitment to SEC rival Ole Miss.
With the running back room already depleted by the absences of Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll, the Tigers were expected to target reinforcements in the transfer portal. The loss of Kewan Lacy only heightened that need, and Mizzou wasted no time in finding a talented back to fill the void.
On Wednesday evening, it was announced that Ahmad Hardy had committed to the Tigers. As a freshman this past season, Hardy tallied 237 carries for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns. His standout season, combined with three years of eligibility remaining, made him one of the top running back targets in the transfer portal.
New beginnings !!! Committed !! 🐯 thank God .. #GodsPlan pic.twitter.com/13GgkCJOYS
— Ahmad hardy (@Ahmadhardy29) December 19, 2024
One of Hardy's most impressive feats was his ability to make defenders miss. He ranked second in the nation this past season with 94 forced missed tackles, trailing only Ashton Jeanty.
Hardy will have the opportunity to compete with Jamal Roberts for the starting role as early as next season. Both running backs are likely to see significant work, and it will be intriguing to see how Mizzou balances its offense in the coming weeks.