Shot running back Ahmad Hardy steps onto the field at Arkansas

A metal rod now holds together the femur of Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy, but that did not stop him from entering the game against Arkansas on Saturday night. The No. 23 Tigers played in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Hardy joined the action late in the first quarter to an ovation from the home crowd. This marked his return to the field nearly six months after a shooting incident in his home state.

Hardy was a bystander at an outdoor concert in Laurel, Mississippi, on May 10 when he was shot in the leg. Police arrested a suspect and charged them with two felony counts of aggravated assault. The college has released few details regarding the full scope of his injuries, but Coach Eli Drinkwitz stated this week that the 20-year-old required surgery to insert the rod.

In the 2025 season, Hardy ran for 1,649 yards and scored a school-record 16 touchdowns. His absence from this season's roster has allowed senior Jamal Roberts to take over as the primary rusher. Roberts enters the weekend with 867 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. He currently leads the Southeastern Conference in rushing yards per game with a mark of 123.9.

Hardy has a history of success against this specific opponent. Last November, he rushed for 157 yards on 27 carries to help Missouri secure a 31-17 victory in Fayetteville. That performance represented his third-best rushing output of the previous year.