A heartbreaking scene unfolded on Tuesday evening in Alabama, where 22-year-old college football player William D. Hardrick lost his life in a violent car crash. Loved ones and teammates are now mourning a young man who had so much ahead of him, both on the football field and in life.
Hardrick, a defensive back at Austin Peay State University, died when his vehicle flipped several times off Interstate 65 and landed on Piney Chapel Road. He was driving home from school at the time. Authorities later revealed that they charged a man involved in the wreck with murder and accused him of fleeing the scene.
Rising Career Cut Short
Hardrick’s college football journey spanned three universities. He began at Mississippi State, spent time at Miami University in Ohio, and finally found a home at Austin Peay in Tennessee. Those who knew him describe a player who worked relentlessly and brought out the best in those around him.
“William Hardrick was an exceptional young man, and our team is heartbroken by his loss,” said Austin Peay head coach Jeff Faris. “He made everyone around him better and has made a real impact both on and off the field. We lift up the Hardrick family in prayer as we grieve this tragic loss with them.”
Austin Peay DB William Hardrick passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday at the age of 22.
Hardrick played at Mississippi State and Miami-Ohio before transferring to Austin Peay for the upcoming season. pic.twitter.com/U4BR7xlfgY
— Football Forever (@fballforeverhq) May 7, 2025
The crash took place during a chaotic stretch of the evening, when eight separate collisions occurred along I-65 South, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Among them, the one involving Hardrick proved fatal. Emergency crews pronounced him dead at the scene.
Hardrick hailed from Birmingham, Alabama. Friends and former coaches have begun sharing their memories, honoring not just his athletic talent but the character he carried through every locker room.
The investigation remains active, with charges already filed against a suspect who allegedly fled after the wreck. Police have not yet released further details about the circumstances surrounding the crash or the identity of the accused.
Hardrick’s sudden death leaves a hole in a tight-knit football community and a family now grappling with unimaginable grief. As the investigation unfolded, Hardrick’s presence left a mark far beyond the stat sheets and sidelines. His teammates, coaches, and loved ones are left remembering a young man who gave everything he had, right up to the very end.