
SEC Running Backs 2026: Who Leads the Pack?
A look at the top backfields and key players heading into the next college football season.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Laurel across Football, Basketball.

A look at the top backfields and key players heading into the next college football season.
Ahmad Hardy, the Missouri running back who led the SEC in rushing last season, is recovering after being shot in the leg while leaving a concert in Mississippi. His coach notes there are no established return‑to‑play protocols for such injuries.

ESPN analyst Greg McElroy has placed Ahmad Hardy at the summit of his 2026 running back rankings, but the player's future remains clouded by a recent shooting incident.

Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy, who set a single‑season rushing record in 2025, is recuperating after being shot at a Laurel concert. Authorities have arrested Rashodrick Harris, who now faces aggravated assault charges.

UMBC announced that senior track athlete Marie Abongwa and graduate basketball player Josh Odunowo have been nominated for the America East Man and Woman of the Year awards, highlighting their scholarly success, competitive performance and service to the community.

Ahmad Hardy, a University of Missouri football player, was shot in Laurel, Mississippi, early Saturday. He underwent surgery and is stable, while the community rallies around him.