Ahmad Hardy will not play in Missouri's season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 3 as the star running back continues his recovery from a gunshot wound suffered in May.
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz announced Saturday night that Hardy has not progressed far enough to be ready for the opener. Hardy has been working through his rehabilitation during fall camp but has not yet returned to practice.
"Ahmad is working his rear end off," Drinkwitz said. "He's doing everything we can ask him to do, but (he's) just not going to be able to be ready for that first game."
Drinkwitz also provided more clarity on what still needs to happen before Hardy can return to live action, saying Hardy must complete two full weeks of practice at full speed before Missouri would consider putting him in a game.
Hardy has not reached that point, meaning that two-week ramp-up period has yet to begin. That leaves the timing of his return uncertain.
"Does that mean mid-September? I don't know. Does it mean mid-October? I don't know," Drinkwitz said. "I need a two-week, fully invested, be-able-to-practice-at-full-speed, before we consider playing in the game, and I'm not there yet."
Missouri plays at Kansas on Sept. 11 and hosts Troy on Sept. 19 before opening SEC play at Mississippi State on Sept. 26.
Clear as mud
Drinkwitz's announcement at SEC Media Days in July that Hardy had been "medically cleared" did not mean he was ready to return to football activities. It meant he could begin the next phase of his rehabilitation.
At the time, Drinkwitz said the return-to-football process could take five-to-eight weeks. Saturday marked five weeks since that process began.
Hardy was shot in the upper leg at a concert in Mississippi in May and required emergency surgery. Drinkwitz said in July that the bullet struck a bone, which has complicated the recovery.
Roberts takes over in the meantime
Missouri will turn to senior Jamal Roberts as its primary running back while Hardy remains sidelined.
Roberts rushed for 753 yards and six touchdowns last season. He has averaged 5.5 yards per carry in his three years at Missouri, while Hardy has averaged 6.0 in his career, and both backs posted an identical 11.3% explosive-run rate.
Missouri also added transfers Xai'Shaun Edwards and Malae Fonoti to the running back room.
Still, Hardy's absence leaves a significant hole.
The Mississippi native was one of the nation's best players at his position last season after rushing for 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was a consensus All-American, a Doak Walker Award finalist and the SEC's leading rusher.
Roberts now gets the first opportunity to replace that production, at least until Hardy is ready.
"Jamal's been phenomenal," Drinkwitz said. "He was voted a captain by his teammates yesterday. He's responded the right way. He's had an excellent camp."
