Ahmad Hardy to miss first week of the season

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz gave an update on the All-American running back.

After the final practice of the fall training camp, coach Drinkwitz gave an update on Ahmad Hardy, saying that he would not be available for the first game of the season.

"Ahmad has been working his rear end off, he's doing everything we can ask him to do," coach Drinkwitz said. "But he's just not going to be able to be ready for that first game."

Back on July 20, Drinkwitz announced that Hardy had been 'medically cleared' to begin the rehabilitation process, and said the return to play protocol could take anywhere from five to eight weeks.

At that five week check up, Hardy has still not practiced with the team and will require a few more weeks before he is ready to go. He will miss the first contest of the year against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and is now estimated to return sometime in mid-September, but no set date has been announced.

"Ahmad has been here every day, worked really hard, facing the adversity of not responding the way he wants to." Drinkwitz said. "He wishes it was ready to go yesterday, which we all do, but still staying positive and attacking it."