In a positive development for Missouri football, standout running back Ahmad Hardy is being discharged from the hospital and will return to Columbia to begin his rehabilitation after a weekend shooting incident. A team spokesperson confirmed the news to the Columbia Daily Tribune on Tuesday, May 12, offering a glimmer of hope for the Tigers' upcoming season.
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, the goal remains for Hardy to take the field this season. The 20-year-old star was shot around 2 a.m. Sunday while attending a concert in Laurel, Mississippi. He was treated at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg and is now in stable condition, with plans to continue his recovery closer to the Missouri campus.
The incident unfolded as Hardy was attempting to leave the concert. Laurel Police Department Sgt. Macon Davis told the Kansas City Star that Hardy was in the passenger seat of a vehicle when he was shot. Reports indicate he was not involved in the events leading up to the shooting and is considered an innocent bystander. The injury was to his upper leg, though the full extent of the damage and a precise timeline for his return to football remain unclear.
As of Tuesday afternoon, no charges have been filed in connection with the shooting, according to Mississippi court records. The Laurel Police Department declined to comment on the incident when reached by the Tribune on Monday, and no official police report has been made public.
Despite the uncertainty, Hardy's return to Columbia is a welcome relief for Mizzou fans. The running back was a breakout star last season, leading the SEC and all Power Five conferences with an electrifying 1,649 rushing yards. After transferring from Louisiana-Monroe, his remarkable junior campaign earned him consensus All-American honors and put him on the radar of NFL scouts, with multiple outlets projecting him as a potential first-round draft pick next year.
As one of the most anticipated players in college football this season, Hardy's recovery will be closely watched. For now, the focus is on getting him back to full health—and hopefully, back to doing what he does best on the gridiron.