Mizzou running back Jamal Roberts returned to the program instead of transferring. Find out why he stayed, along with his thoughts on new teammates below.
COLUMBIA — Ahmad Hardy was undoubtedly the star of Mizzou’s running back room in 2025, filling the shoes that many believed he would. The sophomore transfer rushed for an SEC-high 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry while leading the Tigers to one of the nation’s top rushing offenses.
But he didn’t do it alone. Returning tailback Jamal Roberts, who had rushed for 216 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, entered the 2026 season as a clear backup to Hardy. Roberts then exploded onto the scene in 2026, rushing for 753 yards and six touchdowns while playing just 42 less snaps than Hardy.
Roberts was crucial to Mizzou’s offense, providing elite pass protection and a change of pace from Hardy’s rushing throughout the season. He operated as one of the best backups in the nation, playing at a level high enough to warrant leading a backfield on his own, which many believed he could seek in the transfer portal.
In the modern landscape of the portal-heavy college football offseason, Roberts had a heavy decision to make: Leave Missouri in search of a full-time starting gig, or play his role in one of the nation’s best one-two punches.
In Roberts’ mind, the decision wasn’t a hard one.
“I didn't want to go anywhere,” Roberts said. “I wanted to stay home.”
The St. Louis native received plenty of support from local fans and business to keep him in Black and Gold.
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“I started a legacy here,” Roberts said. “I built my foundation here. I just want to finish it out.”
The next chapter of his legacy is the upcoming 2026 season, in which the Tigers will seek to remain competitive in the grueling Southeastern Conference and maintain a high-level rushing attack. Maintaining that elite play will be much easier for the Tigers given that both Roberts and Hardy returned to the room.
“We just stacking days on our foundation now,” Roberts said of him and Hardy. “(Something to prove) is our brotherhood… Just to push each other and sharpen each other.”
Roberts does have few new faces joining him on the offense, though. Former offensive coordinator Kirby Moore, who had been in the position for Roberts’ entire career with the Tigers, departed from the program to take a head coaching job at Washington State.
Replacing him is longtime collegiate offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who most recently served in the position at Michigan. Lindsey has experience working with two-headed backfields, coaching both Ito Smith and Jalen Richard to 1,000-yard seasons at Southern Miss in 2015.
“I love what Coach Lindsey is doing,” Roberts said. “What he brought to the program, offensive wise, utilize the backs more… I really appreciate what he brought to the table.”
Perhaps the most prominent addition on the offense is transfer quarterback Austin Simmons, who will compete for the starting quarterback job with returning signal-caller Matt Zollers. Neither have worked under Lindsey before, so the entire unit is working on growing familiar with each other in spring ball.
“Building that chemistry,” Roberts said. “Getting on the same page, you know, work through the plays with Coach Lindsey, new playbook, and just building that chemistry and making explosive plays.”