Missouri is getting Ahmad Hardy back for Saturday’s trip to Arkansas, but the return comes with a twist that sounds more like a medical report than a football update. The standout running back is expected to make his season debut despite still having a bullet in his body after being shot in Laurel, Mississippi, in early May.
Hardy’s 2024 season made him one of the top names in the country. He ran for 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns, then finished as a consensus All-American.
This year has been far messier. ESPN’s Marty Smith reported Friday that coach Eli Drinkwitz told him, “the bullet is still in Hardy’s body.”
Smith also said the shot shattered the tip of Hardy’s left femur, and Drinkwitz confirmed that a stabilizing rod was inserted into the femur.
The recovery process has been long and uneven. Hardy was cleared to start rehab in July, but Smith said the months that followed brought both progress and setbacks.
A Missouri staffer also told Smith there is no set return-to-play protocol for a gunshot wound to the hip. Smith added that Hardy has had to wrestle with a very real question about himself: “The pressure of performance is a mental battle,” he wrote.
On the field, Missouri does not sound like it is planning to throw Hardy right back into a full workload. Pete Thamel reported that he will not start against Arkansas, but he should get a handful of carries.
The Tigers are hoping he can help lighten the load on Jamal Roberts, though the expectation is still limited for now. Roberts has carried the offense in Hardy’s absence and leads the SEC with 124 rushing yards per game.
Missouri is coming out of a bye after a 31-3 loss at Ole Miss, and kickoff at Arkansas is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET.
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Mizzous Arkansas Win Came With One Lingering Concern
Missouris 34-10 win over Arkansas gave the Tigers another solid step forward in a season that has started to take shape on the strength of defense and ball security. The Tigers forced four turnovers and controlled the game in a way that made the final margin look comfortable, even if the offense never fully found its rhythm. Ahmad Hardy made a limited return after missing time with an injury, while Jamal Roberts handled the bulk of the work as the primary running back and gave Missouri enough production to keep the ground game moving.
Still, the performance was not spotless, and the red zone issues stood out as the one lingering concern from an otherwise convincing afternoon. Missouri moved the ball well enough to win going away, but the offense left some points on the field and did not always finish drives the way it would like against better competition. For a team trying to build momentum, the defense keeps providing a sturdy foundation, but the next step is making sure the offense matches that standard when the field gets shorter. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Fans Got One More Reason To Celebrate This Arkansas Win
Missouris 34-10 win over Arkansas gave the Tigers more than another rivalry victory. It pushed Eli Drinkwitzs team to bowl eligibility and extended Missouris run of success in the series to five straight, a steady stretch that has made this matchup feel increasingly one-sided from the Tigers perspective. The offense found its rhythm after halftime, with Austin Simmons throwing two touchdown passes and Jamal Roberts powering the ground game with 138 yards and two scores.
There was also a welcome sight in the backfield as Ahmad Hardy returned after recovering from a gunshot wound and got back on the field for Missouri. He logged two carries for five yards, a modest contribution on the stat sheet, but an important step in his comeback. With bowl season now secured, the Tigers can turn the page with momentum and a little more depth than they had just a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Just Got A Huge Boost In A Rivalry Win Fans Loved
Rainy conditions did not slow Missouri down in its 34-10 win over Arkansas, and the Tigers made the most of every mistake the Razorbacks gave them. Missouri forced multiple turnovers, turned those into 24 points, and got a steady effort from quarterback Austin Simmons, who threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns in a game that had the feel of a rivalry statement from the start.
Ahmad Hardys return gave the Tigers another lift, with the running back back on the field for the first time this season after dealing with an injury. For Missouri, it was the kind of complete performance that plays well in a rivalry game: opportunistic on defense, efficient enough on offense, and strengthened by the return of a key piece just when the stretch run starts to matter most. [Read more 🡒]