08/29/2026
Preseason awards have been piling up for Ahmad Hardy all summer, but there's something he did off the field that might've made the biggest impact of all.
The superstar running back, who has been a near-consensus first-team All-American choice this preseason, has not been able to practice since he was shot in the leg at a concert in May.
But he made sure to fulfill a promise to his hometown.
Hardy donated roughly $6,000 worth of football equipment to his alma mater, Lawrence County High School, in Mississippi. The Jackson Clarion Ledger reported the news this week.
"He told me, 'Coach, whatever you need, just let me know, no matter the price,'" Lawrence County coach Josh Milton told Yahoo! Sports. "... He just brought it up with some coaches with the jerseys and the pants, man. He just told me to send the order to get them made.�I sent him a quote, and that was it."
Hardy's timetable for return to the Missouri lineup is uncertain. He has been ruled out for the opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sept. 3. Mizzou fans are hoping to see him back in his No. 29 uniform soon.
