Missouri's Star Running Back to Miss Season Opener

The Missouri Tigers will open the 2026 season without their star running back. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz confirmed after the team's final fall camp scrimmage on Saturday that Ahmad Hardy will not play in the season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 3.

Hardy, who was shot in the leg at a concert in Laurel, Mississippi, on May 10, has yet to practice with the team during fall camp. Drinkwitz delivered the update following the Tigers' final scrimmage on Saturday night, according to abc17news.com.

The coach said Hardy is "working his rear end off" and doing everything asked of him, but he is not ready for the opener.

"Really don't have a timetable on that," Drinkwitz told reporters, via the Associated Press. "It's up to his body and his response."

Recovery Timeline Unclear

Drinkwitz reiterated that Hardy must complete a full two-week ramp-up period of full-speed practices before he can return to game action. That process has not yet begun, leaving the timeline uncertain.

"Does that mean mid-September? I don't know. Does it mean mid-October? I don't know," Drinkwitz said, as reported by CBS Sports. "I need a two-week, fully invested, be-able-to-practice-at-full-speed, before we consider playing in the game, and I'm not there yet."

At SEC Media Days in July, Drinkwitz announced that Hardy had been "medically cleared," which meant he could begin rehab and weight room work, but not practice. He estimated the return protocol could take five to eight weeks, but that window has passed without Hardy reaching full-speed practice.[^1]

[^1]: Multiple reports, including ABC17 and CBS Sports, noted the five-to-eight-week estimate and the unfinished recovery.

Hardy's Background

Hardy, a first-team All-American last season, led the SEC with 1,649 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in 2025, setting a single-season school record for touchdowns. He also averaged a jaw-dropping 6.4 yards per carry.

A sophomore's season at Missouri followed a dominant freshman year at Louisiana-Monroe, where he amassed 1,351 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top college running back.

Backup Plans

In Hardy's absence, the Tigers will turn to veteran Jamal Roberts, who has been voted by teammates as a captain. Roberts rushed for 753 yards and six touchdowns last season, ranking No. 11 in the SEC.

Drinkwitz praised Roberts after camp.

"He's been a monster," he said, as reported by ABC17. "He's had an excellent camp."

Missouri also added transfers Xain'Shuan Edwards and Malae Fonoti to the backfield. Edwards ran for 1,061 yards at Houston Christian last season, while Fonoti had 184 yards at Montana. Roberts and Hardy have been noted as a strong duo, chemistry forming from coaching each other last season.

Team Health and Other Updates

After the final scrimmage, Drinkwitz said the team came out of fall camp "healthy" overall, with three players nursing injuries. Tight end Gavin Hoffman had a hamstring strain, wide receiver Jabari Brady hyperextended a knee, and offensive lineman Braylon Ellison had an injury. That trio could return for the season opener.

Defensive tackle Donta Simpson, who was in return-to-play protocol until Aug. 11, has been fully cleared and took every rep in the scrimmage.

Quarterback Austin Simmons had a bounce personality, coming off a week where he threw two interceptions in a previous scrimmage. Drinkwitz said he showed improvement, and wide receiver Donovan Olugbode earned praise for his route-run and consistency.

On defense, interceptions by Kensley Louidor-Faustin and Chris Graves Jr. helped the unit marked the goal of creating more takeaways.

Upcoming Schedule

Missouri will open drawing on Thursday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (game projected). The team travels to Kansas on Sept. 11, hosts Troy on Sept. 19, and opens SEC play at Mississippi State on Sept. 26.

Hardy looks to potentially returns mid-September, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel, but the official timeline remains up to his body. As Drinkwitz said: "I know he's doing everything he can."