Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz said Monday at SEC Football Media Days that running back Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared following the gunshot wound he suffered in May and has begun the next phase of his recovery. Drinkwitz said the bullet struck a bone in Hardy’s upper leg, but that injury has fully healed. Monday marked Hardy’s first day back toward a full recovery, although the Tigers are still determining what his return-to-play timeline will look like.
Drinkwitz said Missouri’s medical, athletic performance and nutrition staffs are guiding Hardy through a recovery process that is expected to take between five and eight weeks. While acknowledging there is little medical data available for an injury like Hardy’s, Drinkwitz said he is encouraged by the running back’s approach to rehabilitation and believes he can return even stronger. The coach also called the incident a reminder that “there is no place for gun violence,” particularly involving young people. Hardy rushed for 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, finishing second among all FBS players in rushing.