COLUMBIA, Mo. – Running back Ahmad Hardy was named SEC Newcomer of the Year and five Mizzou football student-athletes were named All-Southeastern Conference by the Associated Press, the publication announced. Three Tigers earned first-team honors while two more earned second-team nods.
First-Team honorees include Hardy, who was a unanimous selection, and offensive linemen Keagen Trost and Cayden Green. Linebacker Josiah Trotter and defensive tackle Chris McClellan were recognized on the second team.
AP ALL-SEC TEAM
FIRST TEAM
– Ahmad Hardy (RB, unanimous)
– Keagen Trost (OT)
– Cayden Green (OT)
SECOND TEAM
– Josiah Trotter (LB)
– Chris McClellan (DT)
SEC NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
– Ahmad Hardy (RB)
Hardy, one of three national finalists for the prestigious Doak Walker Award given to the nation’s top running back, led the country in rushing on a per-game basis (130.0 YPG) while leading all Doak Walker finalists and ranking second nationally in rushing (1,560). Hardy’s success was fueled by eight 100-yard games and the sixth 300-yard rushing performance in SEC history against Mississippi State on November 15. His 16 rushing touchdowns rank fourth nationally while he has rushed for 281 more yards than any other back in the conference.
Trost helped pave the way for Hardy and the Tiger offense with consistently strong play at right tackle this season. The Kankakee, Illinois, native is the top-graded offensive lineman in all of college football, according to Pro Football Focus – who grades him nearly a full point higher than any lineman in the country. In addition, he also boasts the nation’s top run-block grade, per PFF. Trost allowed just two sacks on the campaign and helped pave the way for the nation’s No. 8 rushing attack as the Tigers averaged 234.1 yards on the ground to lead the SEC during the regular season.
Green lined up at left tackle on the opposite side of Trost to form a formidable duo of pass protectors anchoring MU’s offensive line. The junior from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, helped pave the way for the nation’s No. 8 rushing attack as the Tigers averaged 234.1 yards on the ground to lead the SEC during the regular season. Green allowed just two sacks and seven total pressures for the campaign, according to PFF.
Trotter, a redshirt sophomore and first-year Tiger by way of West Virginia, was an integral piece of the Mizzou defense all season long. Trotter’s consistent play led him to a team-leading 84 tackles (43 solo) to go along with 13.0 TFL and a pair of sacks on the season. PFF credits Trotter with the nation’s No. 6 rush defense grade nationally among linebackers – No. 2 in the SEC. His 84 total tackles rank fourth in the conference.
McClellan, a senior defensive tackle, was a constant presence from the interior of the defensive line for the Tigers this season. The North Tulsa, Oklahoma, native recorded 42 tackles, including seven tackles for loss and five sacks to rank third on the team behind Zion Young and Damon Wilson II. McClellan helped the Tiger defense rank 10th nationally in total defense (274.8 YPG), 10th in tackles for loss (7.1 per game) and 16th in rushing defense (103.3).
Mizzou is set to play in its 38th bowl game when it meets Virginia in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Saturday, December 27, at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
Kickoff between the No. 25 Tigers and No. 20 Cavaliers is set for 6:30 p.m. CT with ABC and Tiger Radio Network providing coverage. The meeting on the gridiron between Mizzou (8-4) and Virginia (10-3) will mark the second meeting between the two schools and the first since 1973 when Mizzou defeated UVA, 31-7, in Columbia.
Mizzou Football season ticket holders and Mizzou Athletics Fund donors will receive an email with a link to purchase tickets in the Mizzou section for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. General tickets for the Gator Bowl are available at TaxSlayerGatorBowl.com.
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