Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy's future for 2026 is uncertain after he was shot at a concert. Coach Elijah Drinkwitz indicated that Hardy's ability to play next season is in question.
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Star Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy's status for 2026 is up in the air after he was shot at a concert in Mississippi on Sunday.
More: What we know about Missouri RB Ahmad Hardy after weekend shooting
Hardy has been discharged from the hospital, but Missouri coach Elijah Drinkwitz said that there's a chance he may or may not play for the Tigers in 2026.
More: Eli Drinkwitz addresses Ahmad Hardy status at Missouri caravan stop
If Missouri is without the All-American for 2026, who will fill the void left by Hardy at RB1?
Let's take a look at the other RBs on the Tigers' roster:
Transfers have been marked with an asterisk (*).
Starter: Ahmad Hardy, jr.
Backup: Jamal Roberts, sr.
Reserves: *XaiâShaun Edwards, r-so.; *Malae Fonoti III, r-so.; Maxwell Warner, fr.; Preston Hatfield, fr.
Before spring practice, Hardy, a near-unanimous All-American selection, was expected to be Mizzouâs primary running back. Jamal Roberts, who was as capable a No. 2 option as youâll find anywhere in college, can be the change-of-pace player in the backfield.
Mizzou added FCS-level transfers in Edwards (Houston Christian) and Fonoti (Montana), who will compete for the third-string reps.
Ahmad Hardy was shot at a concert in Mississippi, leading to uncertainty about his status for the 2026 season.
The head coach of the Missouri Tigers football team is Elijah Drinkwitz.
Ahmad Hardy has been discharged from the hospital but his playing status for 2026 remains uncertain.
The article raises questions about who will fill the RB1 position for Missouri if Ahmad Hardy is unable to play in 2026.
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Oct 11, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Ahmad Hardy (29) runs the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first quarter of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Upside? You bet.
There is an argument that Mizzou expected to have the best returning running back in the sport in Hardy. He finished just 10 yards behind Cam Cook at Jacksonville State for the national lead in rushing yards in 2025. The Oma, Mississippi, native had more yards after contact than any other player in the country.
Missouri may or may not get him back for at least one more year.
There is an argument that, paired with Roberts, the Tigers could have had the best one-two punch in the country, too.
Behind Hardy, Roberts still put up a top-10 mark in the SEC with 759 rushing yards. He had six touchdowns and zero fumbles last season. Eli Drinkwitz made a public plea to find the funds to make it worth Robertsâ while to return, and thatâs Mizzouâs gain.
Itâs a scary backfield, with as much returning talent as anywhere in the country.
Before the Tigers went into portal season, there absolutely were depth issues on the roster as both of their true freshmen, Marquise Davis (Louisville) and Brendon Haygood (North Texas), hit the transfer portal. Tack on incoming rookie Terry Hodges flipping to Arkansas and career reserve Tavorus Jones opting to spend his final season in his hometown with UTEP, and numbers were an issue.
Nov 29, 2025; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers running back Jamal Roberts (20) celebrates after rushing for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
Edwards was a 1,000-yard rusher at the FCS level, and Fonoti showed in spurts at Montana that he can play in a pinch.
If Mizzou has an emergency and needs to turn to its third or fourth running back on the roster, there is competitive depth on the roster again.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football running backs depth chart after Ahmad Hardy shooting