Missouri Players Earn All-SEC Honors Despite Low Rankings

Two Tigers earned spots on the preseason All‑SEC team, yet Missouri was projected to finish near the bottom of the league.

Missouri’s All‑SEC Selections

Fourth‑year left tackle Cayden Green and third‑year running back Ahmad Hardy made USA Today Sports Network’s 2026 All‑SEC squad.

Both selections were not unanimous, and the Tigers were the only school with two preseason honorees among six teams total.

Hardy’s path to the roster has been complicated by a gunshot wound to his thigh sustained in Mississippi on May 10. Coach Eli Drinkwitz said the player could begin a return‑to‑play protocol in 5–8 weeks and expects a full recovery, though the exact timeline remains uncertain.

“What that recovery will look like after having a bullet strike you is still to be determined,” Drinkwitz noted, emphasizing the medical staff’s intensive work. “We do not know exactly what the return‑to‑play progression is because there’s not a lot of literature and data on this, but we are utilizing our medical team, along with our athletic performance team and nutrition, to approach this at a very good pace.”

SEC Preseason Rankings & Awards

Texas heads the preseason poll and is favored to win the regular‑season title. Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian has been tipped for SEC Coach of the Year, while Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss claimed preseason Player of the Year honors.

LSU’s Sam Leavitt received the Newcomer of the Year nod, joining a list of 15 voters that includes the Columbia Daily Tribune and the Knoxville News Sentinel.

The All‑SEC team also features four offensive linemen, with Missouri’s Cayden Green among them. The defensive units highlight Texas’s Colin Simmons and LSU’s Whit Weeks, while special teams go to Oklahoma’s Tate Sandell.

What This Means for Missouri in 2026

Despite the individual honors, Mizzou’s 10th‑place projection signals expectations of a rebuilding season.

Green’s presence on the line could provide a foundation for a stronger offensive line, but the Tigers must address depth and consistency.

Hardy’s recovery timeline will dictate how soon he can contribute, with the program relying on its medical staff to navigate an uncommon injury scenario.

The national attention on Missouri’s players may help recruiting, yet the overall playoff picture remains an uphill climb for the Tigers.