A man has reportedly been charged with murdering college football star William Hardrick after the 22-year-old was killed in a deadly car crash in Alabama.
Investigators claim that Hardrick’s dreams of reaching the NFL were tragically ended after an alleged drunk driver hit eight cars.
Hardrick – a defensive back for Austin Peay State University in Tennesee – was killed while driving home to Adamsville, Alabama. He was pronounced dead at the scene after a car left the road and flipped multiple times, the coroner said.
According to KPLC, John McAdams has been charged with murder, as well as leaving the scene of an accident and DUI, over the deadly crash.
It’s said that a sobriety test showed McAdams had a blood alcohol content of 0.09 percent – over the legal drink-drive limit.
‘I’m still not believing it,’ Hardrick’s father, Ervin Stone, told KPLC. ‘I’m at that point where it’s just a dream and I need to wake up.’
College football star William Hardrick, 22, was killed in a deadly car crash in Alabama
Stone added: ‘Why William? William was the kid who did everything right… he went through all those obstacles (and) beat all those obstacles just to run into this.’
Hardrick was described as ‘an exceptional young man’ in a statement by Austin Peay football coach Jeff Faris.
‘Our team is heartbroken by his loss… 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.’
Hardrick grew up in Adamsville, where he was a standout receiver and defensive back in high school. The 22-year-old spent two seasons with Mississippi State, where he played in one game as a freshman in 2021. He transferred in 2023 to Miami.
He played in 18 games for the RedHawks during the past two seasons, during which made 32 solo or assisted tackles, forced a fumble and broke up five passes.
‘We are truly saddened by the passing of William Hardrick, a new member of our football program and the Austin Peay family,’ Austin Peay vice president and director of athletics Gerald Harrison said.
‘All of our thoughts and prayers are with the Hardrick Family today. We will do everything we can to support his friends, family, and teammates at this time.’
