Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy set to make season debut vs. Arkansas after recovery from May shooting

Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy will make his first appearance of the 2026 season against Arkansas.

According to multiple reports, Hardy is set to play Saturday night after missing the No. 23 Tigers’ first seven games of the season. The SEC’s leading rusher in 2025 has been rehabbing after he was shot in the leg while attending a concert in his home state of Mississippi in May.

Per ESPN, Hardy will have a limited role behind starter Jamal Roberts, who served as Hardy’s backup in 2025.

Hardy returned to practice on Monday for the Tigers and was not on Missouri’s Wednesday injury report. Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said earlier in the week that Hardy was a full participant on Monday, though Drinkwitz didn’t commit at the time to a timeline for Hardy’s return to the field.

The junior led the SEC in rushing in 2025 in his first season with the Tigers. Hardy rushed 256 times for 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns. Only former Jacksonville State RB Cam Cook had more rushing yards.

Hardy joined Missouri after the 2024 season from Lousiana-Monroe. He rushed for 1,351 yards and 13 scores as a freshman with the Warhawks.

Missouri is 5-2 entering Saturday night’s game as it fights to be on the periphery of the College Football Playoff picture. After Arkansas, the Tigers have games against No. 11 Texas, No. 4 Georgia and No. 9 Kentucky remaining before their season finale against Oklahoma

Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.