Prior to head coach Eli Drinkwitz’ press conference Saturday night, an update on star running back Ahmad Hardy was provided by ESPN college football senior writer Pete Thamel. Thamel said Hardy would miss the start of the season and that the target for his return is “mid-September.”
Following the announcement, Drinkwitz confirmed that Hardy will miss Week 1, but the rest of the timeline is not official.
“I’m targeting as soon as possible. I just know that right now we needed a full two-week ramp up period of practice before we would have allowed him to play in the game and that time frame has passed,” Drinkwitz said. “So does that mean mid-September? I don’t know. Does it mean mid-October? I don’t know. I need a two-week, fully invested, being able to practice at full speed (sample) before we would consider playing him in game and I’m not there yet.”
The injury Hardy is recovering from was a gun shot wound he suffered at a concert on May 10. Drinkwitz announced that he was medically cleared during SEC Media Days, which meant that he could begin the rehab process, but practice was still off the table.
“Ahmad is working his rear end off. He’s doing everything we can ask him to do, but just not going to be able to be ready for that first game,” Drinkwitz said. “We’re going to do the very best by him and his team and our medical team. (I) Just feel like right now it’s in his best interest to hold off.”
Missouri is prioritizing Hardy’s health and safety by keeping him off the field to start the season, Drinkwitz explained.
“People are trying to hit you at full speed, especially when you carry the ball and so until he’s back to what he needs to be and protect himself, we have to do the best that we can,” Drinkwitz said.
Hardy led the SEC with a program-high 1,649 rushing yards last season and added 16 scores. He received first-team All American honors and first team All-SEC honors during the campaign.
Running back Jamal Roberts was the Tigers’ backup and one of the strongest in the SEC in 2025. Roberts ranked No. 11 in the SEC in rushing yards with 753 and will likely see an increase in snaps during Hardy’s recovery.
“Jamal’s been phenomenal,” Drinkwitz said. “(He) was voted a captain by his teammates yesterday and I think he’s responding the right way to that.”
Drinkwitz gave insight on four other Tigers during the press conference and believes that all of them will be healthy or “close” to returning by Week 1.
After four-star receiving wide receiver Jabari Brady landed awkwardly on his leg and was helped off the field Wednesday, Drinkwitz provided positive news Saturday.
“Jabari hyperextended his knee, had a little bit of a bone bruise, (but) he’s back recovering in rehab,” Drinkwitz said. “I don’t know if it’ll be Monday, but I anticipate by the end of the week he’ll be back in.”
Drinkwitz’ first update was on sophomore defensive tackle Donta Simpson, who played eight games with Miami in his true freshman season.
“Donta Simpson had a medical condition that prevented him from practicing until about August 11 and then he was in the return to play protocol,” Drinkwitz said. “He’s been fully cleared, he’s ready to go (and) he took every rep tonight that he was supposed to take.”
Another player with an early setback in fall camp was freshman offensive lineman Braylon Ellison.
“Braylon Ellison had an injury on the first Wednesday, but his rehab’s going well. I don’t know if he’ll be back this week, but I anticipate by the first game he will be close,” Drinkwitz said.
Rounding out the updates is tight end Gavin Hoffman who had a Grade 1 strain in his hamstring and is expected to return Monday, per Drinkwitz.
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