Austin Pay Football player, who was killed by allegedly drunk drivers

Nashville, Tenn. (WSMV) – A football player from Austin Pay State University was killed by an alleged drunk driver on Tuesday evening.

WSMV4 spoke to the player's family on Wednesday afternoon. “I am devastated,” said his mother Dionne Bryant. “It is difficult for me to wrap my head over it.”

William Hardrick's parents were broken with a broken heart after saying that on Tuesday evening he was killed by a drunk driver on the I-65 directly ahead of Huntsville, Alabama.

“Everything we know is that he went home and an 18-wheel was the guy drunk,” said Bryant. “He ran eight cars and continued.”

The interstate fell almost 30 miles, and the driver was now charged with Hardrick's murder. His family said she had been informed that her son was wearing a seat belt, but his car had been reversed several times.

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The 22-year-old APSU Senior Football player was back home to get his true ID before the deadline on Wednesday.

“Exactly why,” asked his father Ervin Stone. “Why William? William was the child who did everything right, was missing from difficulties, stayed at school and went through all of these obstacles.”

Hardrick was a transfer from Miami University in Ohio after taking part in Mississippi State for the first time. His first football season in Austin Pay would have been for the 2025 season.

“He finally found his place there,” said Stone. “After all, he had the feeling that someone really wanted him and represent him.”

Head coach Jeff Faris said in a explanation: “William Hardrick was an extraordinary young man and our team was broken by losing their heart.”

Hardrick's parents said he was looking forward to the college and have dreams of making it into the NFL.

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