Missouri knew it gained an impact running back when Ahmad Hardy joined the program, but the sophomore is quickly topping expectations.
Hardy ranks second in the nation with 462 rushing yards and he will look to follow up a 250-yard rushing performance when the No. 23 Tigers face South Carolina on Saturday night in Southeastern Conference play in Columbia, Mo.
Hardy’s yardage count in last Saturday’s 52-10 steamrolling of visiting Louisiana was the seventh-highest single-game output in Missouri history. He carried 22 times while playing 2 1/2 quarters and rushed for three scores, including a 71-yard scamper.
“Every time I touch the ball, I’m thinking I’m going to score,” Hardy said about the long TD run. “So I was just trying to get in the end zone.”
Hardy earned some freshman All-American honors and was Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year at UL Monroe last season, when he rushed for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns.
He has topped 200 rushing yards in three of his last eight games, dating back to his ULM tenure. He has rushed for 100 or more in all three games for the Tigers (3-0, 0-0 SEC).
Meanwhile, South Carolina (2-1, 0-1) hasn’t yet defined the availability of star quarterback LaNorris Sellers for Saturday’s contest.
Sellers sustained a head injury late in the second quarter of last Saturday’s 31-7 home loss to Vanderbilt. Langston Patterson of the Commodores was called for targeting on the play and ejected.
Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer noted that there will be some type of declaration listed for Sellers on the SEC injury report, which will be released Wednesday night.
Luke Doty replaced Sellers against Vanderbilt and was 18-of-27 passing for 148 yards and one interception. The Gamecocks didn’t score any points during his time on the field.
“If the game was today and LaNorris was not able to play, then yes, Luke would be the starter,” Beamer said Tuesday. “But just like every position, we’ve got to continue to compete, and the quarterback position is no different.”
South Carolina’s most impressive weapon early in the season has been Vicari Swain, who leads the nation in punt return average (33.0) and punt return touchdowns (three). Swain has tied the school’s single-season punt return TD mark set by Dick Harris (1969-71) and is one behind Harris’ career record.
Stopping Missouri’s offense could be a chore for the Gamecocks. The Tigers rank eighth nationally in scoring offense (51.7 points per game).
Hardy isn’t the only transfer who is thriving. Beau Pribula, the former backup quarterback at Penn State, is completing 76.4 percent of his passes for 791 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. He has added three scores on the ground.
Pribula expects to have to increase his performance in the team’s first SEC game.
“The SEC is a really good conference,” Pribula said Tuesday. “You know, every team in this conference is going to be a challenge. They’re all really good programs. … It’s one week at a time.”
South Carolina, which fell out of the national rankings, figures to be motivated to improve on its showing against Vanderbilt.
“I told the team I was still encouraged,” Beamer said. “When you look at it, it’s 31-7. You say to yourself, there’s not a lot of good. But, I saw a lot of really good, too, at times, just not enough of it.”
Missouri has won nine of 15 meetings against South Carolina. Last season, the Gamecocks ended a five-game losing streak in the series by recording a 34-30 home win.
