Missouri football coach Eliah Drinkwitz had positive news to share during his time at the podium during SEC Media Days — star running back Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared from his gunshot wound.
The Mississippi native was struck by gunfire that rang out following an outdoor rap concert at a nightclub in his home state on May 10 and subsequently hospitalized. Hardy spent his high school years at Lawrence County and transferred from Louisiana Monroe to Missouri ahead of the 2025 season. He was second among FBS players with 1,639 rushing yards, adding 16 touchdowns, and was lauded as an All-SEC first-team member.
Drinkwitz on Monday told reporters that the bullet connected with a bone in Hardy’s leg. The bone, according to medical personnel who have assisted Hardy, has completely healed. This news instilled a renewed optimism in Drinkwitz that he will not be without one of the nation’s top ball carriers for the duration of the 2026-27 season, which kicks off for the Tigers in under 50 days. In fact, he believes he might be getting a better version of Hardy.
“We anticipate that he will make a recovery. What that recovery will look like after having a bullet strike you is still to be determined,” Drinkwitz said. “We do not know exactly what the return-to-play progression is because there’s not a lot of literature on this. We are utilizing our medical team, along with our athletic performance team and nutrition, to approach this at a very good pace.
“We do anticipate that this return-to-play protocol could take anywhere between five to eight weeks. At the end of the eight weeks, we still don’t know what his recovery will be from a, ‘Is he the same Ahmad Hardy that was last year?’ My anticipation, what I’ve seen, the way he’s attacked his rehab, he’s going to be a better Ahmad Hardy than he was before.”
Drinkwitz pivoted in his floor speech to breach another topic: gun violence.
Though he didn’t delve into public policy, he said the injury Hardy sustained is a reminder that gun violence should not be tolerated, particularly among youth and younger people. The Tiger head coach added that his stance isn’t an attack on gun rights or policing in the U.S.; rather, it prioritizes the safety and well-being of the general public.
“It was also a great reminder that there is no place for gun violence in this world,” Drinkwitz said. “Not criticizing the police or the rights to bear arms, which is a Second Amendment right, but just saying there is no place for gun violence, especially for our youth in society.”
Missouri kicks off the regular season versus Arkansas Pine Bluff on Sept. 3. At this point, it’s not likely that Hardy will be available to compete in the opener, but as far as his recovery goes, Drinkwitz is certain that all signs are pointing in the right direction, and filled with unconventional rehab regimens.
“I’m very proud of the way he’s approached his recovery.” Drinkwitz said. “I’m not sure that his riding horses was part of the recovery protocol that his surgeon had in place. But hell, John Wayne rode after he had been shot. He turned out all right. Ahmad Hardy is trying the same approach.”