**Ahmad Hardy**, Missouri’s first-team All-SEC running back, was shot at a concert in Mississippi early Sunday morning, creating potential roster concerns for the Tigers’ 2026 season.
The university announced Monday that Hardy is in stable condition following surgery. Details about the incident remain limited, but the injury could impact his availability for the upcoming season.
Hardy set Missouri’s single-season rushing record last season with **1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns**. He was also a Doak Walker Award finalist.
If Hardy can’t play, **Jamal Roberts** is expected to handle the majority of carries for Missouri. The Tigers had one of college football’s best rushing attacks last season, becoming the only SEC team with two running backs in the conference’s top 10 for rushing yards.
Roberts carried the ball 124 times for 753 yards and six touchdowns while splitting time with Hardy. The St. Louis native has two seasons of eligibility remaining and hasn’t wavered in his commitment to Missouri since 2023.
“We got a tough situation because you got Ahmad Hardy, who is a consensus All-American, but I think Jamal Roberts is as good a back as there is in the country,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said in a press conference last year via SI. “And how do you beg Jamal to take less to stay here? I mean, that’s the reality of it.”
Roberts may now get the opportunity to prove Drinkwitz’s assessment as Hardy focuses on his recovery.
