nypost
Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy is poised to make his comeback on Saturday, just under six months after sustaining a gunshot wound at a concert. According to a Thursday report from ESPN's Pete Thamel, Hardy is anticipated to see a modest workload but will not be in the starting lineup when the Tigers face Arkansas on the road.
Hardy rejoined practice this week after completing his rehabilitation from the injuries he suffered in the May shooting. Earlier in the week, Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz declined to specify a return date for his star player.
"I don't know if he'll be back for Arkansas. I don't know if he'll be back for Texas. I don't know if he'll be back for the bowl game. Nobody knows," Drinkwitz told reporters during a Monday press conference.
The incident occurred in Laurel, Miss., where Hardy was shot in the upper leg. He underwent surgery in Mississippi and returned to Columbia, Mo., three days later.
In the previous season, Hardy paced the SEC with 1,649 rushing yards and scored 16 touchdowns, earning first-team all-conference and All-American accolades. A native of Oma, Miss., Hardy began his collegiate career at Louisiana-Monroe in the Sun Belt Conference before transferring to Missouri last season.
While Hardy has been sidelined, Jamal Roberts has stepped up as one of the SEC's premier running backs, amassing 867 rushing yards and eight touchdowns over seven games.
Missouri enters Saturday's matchup ranked No. 23 in the AP poll with a 5-2 record, still harboring College Football Playoff aspirations despite a 31-3 loss to Ole Miss in its most recent outing. The Tigers face a challenging remaining schedule that includes Texas, Georgia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.
Key Analysis
Hardy's return provides a significant boost to Missouri's offense, which has relied heavily on Roberts in his absence. The Tigers' playoff hopes hinge on navigating a tough SEC slate, and a healthy Hardy could be the difference-maker down the stretch.
Originally reported by nypost.