Eli Drinkwitz provides latest on Ahmad Hardy’s recovery
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz provided the latest on the recovery of star running back Ahmad Hardy following Saturday’s preseason practice. For the most part, Drinkwitz’ update is that he has no update.
On Saturday, Drinkwitz noted that Hardy is still in the return-to-football phase of his recovery with 2 weeks remaining until the start of the regular season, as expected. He mentioned that he’ll have another update for Hardy next Saturday, the 22nd, when they’ll sit down with doctors and further evaluate his progress.
For now, the Mizzou running back is progressing in the weight room and speed training but still has some time before he’s ready for full contact. Here’s Drinkwitz’ full update:
“He’s still continuing to do rehab. Nothing really to note,” Drinkwitz said, via SI. “I misspoke if I said that because it was really a five-week block. The 22nd… that will be the first five weeks where we’ll sit down with the doctors and evaluate where he’s at… he was out there this afternoon cheering on his teammates. He’s still just able to get in the walk-through stuff, but he’s progressing in the weight room and in his speed training.”
Drinkwitz said during SEC media days that Hardy is medically cleared from the gunshot wound he sustained in May, but he obviously still has to ease his way back to be in SEC-shape for this season.
When healthy, there’s a case to be made that Hardy is the best running back in college football. The consensus All-American rushed for 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns at an average of 6.4 yards per rush last season.
The Tigers kick off their 2026 campaign on September 3 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The game is set to be aired on SEC Network.
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
