Missouri football running back Ahmad Hardy is being discharged from hospital in Mississippi and returning to Columbia to begin his rehab process, a team spokesperson confirmed to the Columbia Daily Tribune on Tuesday, May 12.
The goal, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, is for Hardy to play this season.
Hardy was shot at approximately 2 a.m. Sunday while attending a concert in Laurel, Mississippi. He is in stable condition after reportedly being treated at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Laurel Police Department Sgt. Macon Davis told the Kansas City Star that Hardy was in the passenger seat of a vehicle while attempting to leave the concert when he was shot. Hardy, per the Star, is not believed to have been involved in the events that led up to the shooting and was described as an innocent bystander.
Hardy was reportedly shot in the upper leg. The extent of the damage and an exact timeline for Hardy to potentially return to the football field remain immediately unclear.
According to the most up to date information in the Mississippi courts, nobody has been charged in the shooting that left Hardy wounded as of Tuesday afternoon.
Laurel PD declined to comment on the incident when reached by the Tribune on Monday. There is currently no publicly available incident or police report from the shooting.
But, in good news for Mizzou football fans, the superstar running back is returning to Columbia to begin his recovery process.
Hardy is one of the returning stars in college football this year. The 20-year-old from Oma, Mississippi, led the SEC and Power conferences with 1,649 rushing yards last season — a remarkable junior campaign after transferring to the Tigers from Louisiana-Monroe that saw him earn consensus All-American honors.
Multiple outlets have projected Hardy as a potential first-round NFL Draft pick next year. He was expected to be one of the best, if not the best, running backs in the country in the 2026 season.
“Ahmad is deeply loved by his teammates, coaches, friends, family and fans,” Missouri football posted in a statement to its official social media account on Monday morning, when the news that Hardy was shot was first made public. “We will continue to stand beside him and his family through this difficult time, offering our love, prayers, strength and support. A timeline for his return to football activities is unknown at this time. Mizzou Athletics will provide more information on his status when it becomes available.”
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy leaving hospital, returning to Columbia after shooting
