“I didn’t think he was going to be this good.” Said Eli Drinkwitz after tonight’s game against South Carolina. In Missouri’s 29-20 win against the Gamecocks, Hardy expanded upon last weeks performance, getting 23 carries for 138 yards. Hardy was essentially the Tigers offense tonight. Consistently on 1st and 2nd down, Hardy was surely getting you four or five yards. Hardy had a long of 38 and maybe only once or twice did he go down at first contact. Just a terrific performance tonight from the sophomore.

The reason for writing this is simply to bring awareness to the sheer fact that Missouri could very well have the best running back in the country. If not the best, he’s certainly top five. Hardy has eclipsed 100 yards in all four games this season, and I don’t see him stopping anytime soon. Hardy’s five-yard touchdown run was absolutely ridiculous. Hardy would meet a swarm of Gamecock defenders and begin to fall. Somehow, Hardy was able to keep his balance and find his way into the endzone. Typing it out doesn’t do it justice, go watch it.

Currently, Ahmad Hardy is second in the country in rushing yards, with 462 on the season. Over half of that is yards after contact, by the way. Simply put, Hardy means more to this team than I think anybody expected. In Eli’s postgame presser, he stated that: “If you can run the ball in this league, you will win games.” That they did. It is very obvious that not onmly can and will Mizzou run the ball, but they do it almost better than anyone, being second in the country only behind Indiana. Also, Hardy is putting up this insane season, whilst sharing the workload with Jamal Roberts, who has been fantastic in his own right.

So, is this Mizzou’s best running back room in the Drinkwitz era? I’d certainly say so. It’s not often that you have two running backs that can both get you 100 per night. It’s not often that when you take out your starter, you have just as much faith in your backup. Yet, Mizzou does.

Some fans were still skeptical about Ahmad Hardy, given the lack of competition. Well, he just led his team to victory against a defensive lie led by a future top-ten pick in Dylan Stewart. I think we have our answer on just how good this guy is.

Beau Pribula certainly is appreciative of how Hardy has taken the lead of the offense, having this to say: “I’m never going to be mad when Ahmad runs for 100 yards each week.” Enough said. Hardy was so good that Pribula did not even have to eclipse 200 yards passing tonight.

This team can go as far as Ahmad can take them. If these four weeks have been any indication, it’s possible that the sky is the limit for this Mizzou team.