# SEC Morning Report: Missouri Eyes Backfield Help as Ahmad Hardy's Return Slides to Mid-September

**Published:** 2026-08-25 — **By:** Stacy Stanfield
**Category:** daily-roundup — **Type:** daily-roundup
**Source:** https://secscouts.com/news/missouri-ahmad-hardy-return-mid-september-jamal-roberts-starter

**Teams:** [Arkansas](https://secscouts.com/arkansas/), [Kentucky](https://secscouts.com/kentucky/), [LSU](https://secscouts.com/lsu/), [South Carolina](https://secscouts.com/south-carolina/)


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## Lead Story: Missouri's Backfield Picture Shifts Days Before Kickoff

Missouri will open the 2026 season without its star running back. ESPN's Pete Thamel reported over the weekend that Ahmad Hardy will not be available for the Tigers' season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, with the staff now targeting a mid-September return as Hardy continues to rehab from injury. Hardy still has not practiced for Missouri, making Jamal Roberts the expected starter when the Tigers take the field.

Missouri isn't standing pat, either. Per a report from On3's Pete Nakos, the Tigers have emerged as one of two SEC frontrunners for former Seattle Seahawks running back TJ Harden — with Kentucky identified as the other program in contention. Harden was productive in his final college season at SMU, piling up 787 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 171 carries.

With the opener days away, a decision from Harden is expected soon. For Missouri, adding a back of his caliber would provide insurance behind Roberts while Hardy works his way back — and it sets up an intriguing tug-of-war between two SEC programs looking for late-August reinforcements.

## Quick Hits

- **Texas and Georgia dominate Preseason All-SEC.** The SEC's annual Preseason Coaches All-SEC team featured 11 Longhorns and 11 Bulldogs, tied for the most of any school. Texas' first-team picks included linebacker Rasheem Biles, wide receiver Cam Coleman, return specialist Ryan Niblett, offensive lineman Trevor Goosby, and edge rusher Colin Simmons, with quarterback Arch Manning landing on the second team. Georgia countered with Drew Bobo, Earnest Greene, Ellis Robinson IV, and KJ Bolden on the first team. LSU tied Texas with five first-team honorees.

- **Georgia stacking watch-list honors.** Bulldogs defenders Ellis Robinson IV, KJ Bolden, and Raylen Wilson were all named to the 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award watch list, while quarterback Gunner Stockton earned a spot on the Manning Award preseason watch list.

- **SEC quarterback competitions are settling.** Tennessee has handed the reins to five-star freshman Faizon Brandon, Arkansas named KJ Jackson its QB1, and Florida has settled on Aaron Philo — who previously worked with Florida's new offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech.

- **RJ Luis Jr. cleared to suit up for LSU.** A Louisiana judge on Monday granted the 2025 Big East Player of the Year a temporary injunction to play for LSU this season despite having signed multiple NBA contracts, per ESPN.

- **LSU women's basketball loses Kate Koval.** The Ukrainian center is leaving LSU less than two weeks after the Tigers brought in a player from Russia, according to ESPN. Head coach Kim Mulkey released a statement on Koval's departure Monday.

- **No. 2 Texas volleyball bounces back.** The Longhorns dominated the final frame to cap a five-set thriller over Marquette in the AVCA First Serve finale, securing their first win of the season after dropping the opener to Arizona State.

## Portal Watch

DQ Smith has committed to South Carolina, giving the Gamecocks a late-summer roster addition as camps wind down across the league.

The bigger transfer-adjacent storyline remains TJ Harden. The former NFL running back has Missouri and Kentucky positioned as frontrunners per On3, and with Week 1 approaching, whichever SEC backfield lands him gets an immediate boost.

## Recruiting Buzz

No new commitments came through overnight. In Texas, running back commit Landen Williams-Callis was named the 247Sports Preseason Player of the Year in the state — a nice preseason feather for the Longhorns' class.

## Games to Watch

No games are on today's slate, but football is closing in fast: Georgia fans are 11 days from kickoff in Athens, and Missouri opens against Arkansas-Pine Bluff with its backfield rotation still taking shape. Elsewhere in fall sports, No. 25 Georgia women's soccer keeps rolling — the Bulldogs beat Milwaukee for their third win, fresh off setting a national attendance record for a collegiate women's soccer match.

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*Original article: [SEC Morning Report: Missouri Eyes Backfield Help as Ahmad Hardy's Return Slides to Mid-September](https://secscouts.com/news/missouri-ahmad-hardy-return-mid-september-jamal-roberts-starter) — SEC Scouts*