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Saints Scouting: Ahmad Hardy
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- Saints Scouting: Ahmad Hardy
Missouri's Ahmad Hardy solidified himself as a premier running back nationally with a dominant 2025 campaign. But he's missed the first eight weeks due to an offseason injury, making many fans forget about him. However, that's about to change as he makes his season debut in week nine. This is a great sign for the New Orleans Saints , as Hardy could transform a subpar run game.
Hardy was second in the FBS with 1,648 rushing yards and sixteen touchdowns. This came after rushing for 1,346 yards at Louisiana Monroe in his true freshman season. He's an ultra-productive workhorse back who can carry an offense.
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Sadly, Hardy was shot this offseason, forcing him to undergo a long rehab. Luckily, he's fully recovered and is ready for SEC competition.
Hardy won't go from 0-60 instantly. He won't start this week and will only get a handful of carries, according to Pete Thamel . He will ramp up over the next few games before reaching his regular workload. Still, it's amazing to see him back and will significantly benefit his draft stock.
Hardy is a physical running back who thrives at forcing missed tackles. He has exceptional contact balance and is rarely tackled by one defender. He's strong enough to power through arm tackles and elusive enough to make men miss in space.
Beyond this, he has amazing vision. He allows his blocks to form and consistently finds cutback lines. Then, his rapid acceleration is on full display as he flies past the competition. He doesn't have elite top-end speed, but he can still run away from defenders.
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Even if he doesn't declare until 2028, the Saints should be heavily interested in Hardy. Their run game has been abysmal. It's unacceptable for 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers to have more rushing yards than their leading running back.
They signed Travis Etienne to bolster the unit this offseason, but he's been uninspiring thus far and is on IR with a hamstring injury. Additionally, Alvin Kamara is nearing retirement and Kendre Miller hasn't made the jump towards stardome. It's vital that they improve the unit next offseason and take the pressure off Tyler Shough's shoulders.
It's still too early for anything definitive, especially since Ahmad Hardy hasn't played in a year; however, he's an intriguing prospect who could revitalize the Saints' offense. He could rise draft boards and establish himself as an early day-two pick depending on his performance.
