Kentucky transfer target Ahmad Hardy commits to Missouri

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the high school recruiting cycle occurred when Missouri flipped Cleveland (Ohio) Heights tailback Marquise Davis from out of nowhere following the last week of the regular season. Eliah Drinkwitz‘s staff stole Kentucky’s highest-ranked commit after the top-200 prospect showed no signs of looking around for months.

Now the Tigers have stolen a top tailback target in the transfer portal in a recruiting battle that appeared to be coming down to Kentucky and Ole Miss.

ULM transfer Ahmad Hardy scheduled a mid-week visit to Missouri and did not leave Columbia without committing.

New beginnings !!! Committed !! 🐯 thank God .. #GodsPlan pic.twitter.com/13GgkCJOYS

— Ahmad hardy (@Ahmadhardy29) December 19, 2024

Ahmad Hardy rushed for 1,351 yards on 5.7 yards per rush and 13 touchdowns as a true freshman earning first-team All-Sun Belt honors. The former unranked recruit went over 100 yards eight times in 12 games with 200-yard performances against Marshall and Arkansas State. Hardy produced those numbers playing in an offense that had one of the worst passing attacks (No. 130 in passing success rate) in college football.

The running back finished the season ranked No. 11 nationally in rushing yards and produced a 14.8 percent explosive run rate. Only four players had more 30-plus yard rushes than the ULM tailback. Asthon Jeanty was the only tailback to force more missed tackles than Ahmad Hardy, according to PFF data.

Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell emerged as a potential transfer portal option earlier this week. The former top-200 recruit started his career at Oregon before rushing for 614 yards and 12 touchdowns as a true sophomore in 2024. Do not be surprised if the Kentucky coaching staff quickly pivots to the Big Ten transfer and gets a visit for this weekend locked in.

Kentucky Football Transfer Portal Tracker

The transfer portal is open for business and so far we know of 19 players who will be seeking out greener pastures this offseason.

• DL Keeshawn Silver
• DB Avery Stuart
• LB Jayvant Brown
• LS Walker Himebauch
• TE Tanner Lemaster
• TE Khamari Anderson
• TE Jordan Dingle (Committed to South Carolina on Dec. 18)
• OL Courtland Ford (Committed to UCLA on Dec. 17)
• OL Ben Christman
• OL Dylan Ray
• DL Tommy Ziesmer (Committed to EKU on Dec. 15)
• WR Dane Key
• WR Barion Brown (Committed to LSU on Dec. 14)
• WR Anthony Brown-Stephens
• WR Brandon White
• EDGE Tyreese Fearbry
• EDGE Noah Matthews
• EDGE Caleb Redd
• RB Chip Trayanum
• QB Gavin Wimsatt

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. Keep closer tabs on the Cats with our staff-only sticky thread on KSBoard, which will have updates on departures and targets throughout the offseason. Not a KSR+ member? Try it out today.