Ahmad Hardy Health Update: Missouri HC Eli Drinkwitz Gives Latest on All-SEC RB

Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Ahmad Hardy Health Update: Missouri HC Eli Drinkwitz Gives Latest on All-SEC RB

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated May 16, 2026 9:59 AM ET

Missouri Tigers football running back Ahmad Hardy had one of the best rushing seasons in the country last year. The first-team All-SEC selection finished second among all FBS players with 1,649 rushing yards, scored 16 touchdowns and averaged 6.4 yards per carry across 256 attempts.

He also took home SEC Newcomer of the Year honors and was a Doak Walker Award finalist. Right now though, none of that is what people are talking about.

Hardy was shot early Sunday morning, May 10, while attending an outdoor concert at the Kamakazy Biker Club in Laurel, Mississippi. He suffered a gunshot wound to the upper leg and was transported to Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, where he underwent surgery.

Missouri confirmed on Monday that he remains in stable condition. ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that Hardy is alert and already moving around, with optimism around his eventual return to football.

Missouri Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy speaks to media after the win over the Mississippi State BulldogsDenny Medley-Imagn Images

Eli Drinkwitz Gives Ahmad Hardy Health Update

Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz spoke to ESPN's Marty Smith on Saturday, May 16, and gave the latest on Hardy's condition.

"Hardy has returned to Columbia," Drinkwitz said. "He is still in the hospital to monitor his wounds and post-surgery. He is in good spirits. He is walking and doing physical therapy three times a day. He hopes to check out of the hospital Monday."

That's an encouraging update given the circumstances. Hardy, a native of Oma, Mississippi, only arrived at Missouri after a standout 2024 season at ULM Warhawks football, where he rushed for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns on 237 carries before entering the transfer portal.

He wasted no time making an impact with the Tigers and quickly became one of the most productive backs in the SEC.

Arrest Made in Connection With Ahmad Hardy Shooting

Authorities have made an arrest in the case. A 20-year-old Mississippi man, Rashodrick Harris of Waynesboro, was taken into custody early Friday morning in Paducah, Kentucky.

According to The Laurel Leader-Call, Paducah police located Harris after receiving a National Crime Information Center alert tied to his vehicle registration and arrested him without incident around 1:30 a.m.

Laurel Police Department Sgt. Macon Davis confirmed Harris is facing two aggravated assault charges connected to the shooting and an additional charge in Kentucky for being an out-of-state fugitive.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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