The best sight of Mizzou’s fall camp so far wasn’t a deep ball or a sack — it was No. 1 himself. Ahmad Hardy, our All-American running back, was out at Wednesday’s practice watching his teammates work, three months after suffering a gunshot wound to his left leg. He didn’t take a rep, but he jogged off the field under his own power, and with the opener three weeks out, every small step matters.
The Rundown
- Hardy attended Wednesday’s fall camp practice wearing a sleeve on his left leg; he watched drills but did not participate.
- He’s been medically cleared since late July but remains in a 5-8 week return-to-play protocol after being shot on May 10.
- Eli Drinkwitz’s last official word (Aug. 2): no practice for now, rehab and walkthroughs only, with another update expected roughly two weeks out — meaning news could come any day.
- Bonus camp note: kicker Blake Craig went a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals, and NFL scouts from the Vikings, Steelers and Dolphins were watching from the sidelines.
Where Hardy’s Recovery Actually Stands
Let’s separate hope from fact. Hardy has been medically cleared, which was the big hurdle. But cleared doesn’t mean game-ready — he’s still working through a return-to-play protocol expected to run five to eight weeks, and he hasn’t practiced during camp. Drinkwitz has been careful not to promise anything, saying Hardy would stick to rehab and walkthroughs while the staff gets him “acclimated back to what it would take to play football.” He also flagged that a fresh update was coming in about two weeks — and we’re now right at that window. Fan sentiment polling over at Rock M Nation suggests most of us expect Hardy to miss the Sept. 5 opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and honestly, that’s the smart play. There’s zero reason to rush the best running back in the SEC back for a tune-up game.
The Quiet Star of Camp: Blake Craig’s Leg
Buried in Wednesday’s notes was something that should make every Tiger fan smile: Blake Craig drilled all four of his field goal attempts, working back from the 10-yard line out to the 32. Remember, Craig tore the ACL in his plant leg in Week 1 last season — a brutal injury for a kicker. He says his power is back to full strength, and Wednesday backed that up. In a league where three-point margins decide November, a healthy Craig is a real weapon.
Eyes on Columbia
One more sign this program has arrived: NFL scouts from Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Miami were on the sidelines watching our guys in mid-August. That’s what sustained winning buys you. With the AP preseason poll dropping Monday and the Tigers already sitting No. 25 in the coaches poll, the national spotlight is finding Columbia before a single snap.
The takeaway: Hardy walking (and jogging) around practice is the most encouraging visual of camp, but patience is the play. Expect the next Drinkwitz update within days — and expect the staff to protect their star for the games that matter. M-I-Z.
Sources: Missouri Tigers On SI, Rock M Nation, 247Sports / PowerMizzou
