All-American running back to miss season opener after being shot at concert

SportsMissouri Tigers star running back Ahmad Hardy will miss Mizzou's season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 3. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)APMissouri All-American running back Ahmad Hardy will miss the Tigers’ season opener while he continues to recover after he was shot at a concert in May.Hardy was shot in his leg while attempting to leave a concert in Laurel, Mississippi, on May 10. He underwent surgery at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and was discharged two days later. He was medically cleared to return to football activities in July, but head coach Eli Drinkwitz said Saturday that Hardy won’t play in No. 25 Mizzou’s season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 3.“Ahmad is working his rear end off. He’s doing everything we can ask him to do. But he’s not going to be able to be ready for that first game,” Drinkwitz said. “We’re going to do the very best by him and his team and our medical team. We just feel like right now it’s in his best interest to hold off.“Hopefully he can keep working and try to get back as soon as possible. Really don’t have a timetable on that. It’s up to his body and his response, and I know he’s doing everything he can.”Drinkwitz estimated on July 20 that Hardy’s return-to-play protocol could take five to eight weeks.Hardy earned NCAA First-Team All-American honors in 2025 after he led the Southeastern Conference with 1,649 rushing yards and 6.4 yards per rush attempt while also scoring 16 rushing touchdowns. He was also named one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, which honors the best running back in college football.Hardy transferred to Missouri after playing his freshman season at Louisiana-Monroe in 2024, when he led the Sun Belt Conference with 237 rush attempts, 1,351 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns.Zach Mentz is Trending Sports Reporter for cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer and its parent company, Advance Local. His past interviews include NFL Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson, Heisman Trophy winner Ricky...