Preseason Accolades and Injury Concerns
Missouri’s football program received a boost this preseason as two of its standout players earned recognition from analyst Phil Steele, with running back Ahmad Hardy earning first‑team All‑American honors and offensive tackle Cayden Green landing on the second team.
Hardy’s Injury and Rehabilitation
Hardy’s season was abruptly halted when a gunshot wound to his upper leg occurred while he was leaving the Kamikazy Biker Club in Laurel, Mississippi. He was rushed to Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, where surgeons performed an operation to address the injury.
After a brief hospitalization, Hardy was discharged on May 12 and returned to Columbia to begin a structured rehabilitation program. Coach Eli Drinkwitz has spoken repeatedly about the running back’s progress, but he has stopped short of offering a concrete return date, leaving the timeline uncertain.
Green’s Rising Stock
Green, who shifted from left guard to left tackle ahead of the previous season, started 11 games and earned Pro Football Focus’s 11th‑highest grade among offensive tackles in 2025. His performance has sparked widespread speculation that he could become a Day 1 or Day 2 selection in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Phil Steele’s preseason list placed Green alongside SMU’s PJ Williams as a second‑team All‑American at offensive tackle, underscoring the competitive landscape that awaits the Tigers.
Season Opener and Broader Outlook
Missouri is slated to open its campaign on September 3 in Columbia against FCS‑level Arkansas‑Pine Bluff, a matchup that will test the readiness of a roster still integrating key pieces.
Beyond Hardy and Green, the team’s depth chart includes other notable names such as Kewan Lacy, Trevor Goosby and Carter Smith, all of whom contributed to the program’s recent successes and will be watched closely as the season unfolds.
The preseason recognitions also highlight the broader reach of the Tigers’ football brand, with the program’s presence felt across partner institutions like Ole Miss, SMU, Texas and Indiana, each maintaining a digital footprint that amplifies the sport’s national narrative.