Who is Missouri RB Jamal Roberts? How the Tigers' offense will look if Ahmad Hardy is unavailable

The Missouri Tigers might have to make an unforeseen roster change before the 2026 football season.

Ahmad Hardy, a first-team All-SEC running back selection last season, was shot at a concert in Mississippi early Sunday morning. The Tigers star is reportedly in stable condition following surgery, the school announced Monday. While most of the details aren't yet public, there's a possibility Hardy could miss time during the upcoming season.

Missouri has one of the best offensive backfield duos in the country with the Doak Walker Award finalist leading the charge. But if he's unavailable next season, Jamal Roberts is expected to take on a majority of the load for the Tigers.

Roberts shared time in the backfield last season and stacked up 124 carries for 753 yards and six touchdowns. On the other hand, Hardy set Missouri's single-season rushing record with 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns. Missouri was the only SEC team to have two different running backs in the top 10 for rushing yards in the conference.

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"We got a tough situation because you got Ahmad Hardy, who is a consensus All-American, but I think Jamal Roberts is as good a back as there is in the country," Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said in a press conference last year via SI. "And how do you beg Jamal to take less to stay here? I mean, that's the reality of it."

As it turns out, Roberts might be the go-to option as Hardy recovers. Roberts has two seasons of eligibility remaining and the St. Louis native hasn't strayed from being at Missouri since committing back in 2023.

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