Waching daily Sep 30 2018

Tennessee State linebacker Christion Abercrombie collapsed on the sideline late in the first half against Vanderbilt on Saturday and is now in a critical condition after emergency surgery for a head injury

 Tigers coach Rod Reed headed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to check on the linebacker after the game

<img id="i-31b1311e01f1fb65" src="https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/09/30/14/50D86EC200000578-6223325-image-m-11_1538313593859

jpg" height="370" width="306" alt="Tennessee State linebacker Christion Abercrombie

He's pictured during his season with Illinois" class="blkBorder img-share"/> Copy link to paste in your message <img id="i-8063298fe86a7c12" src="https://i

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jpg" height="370" width="306" alt="Abercrombie collapsed on the sideline late in the first half against Vanderbilt on Saturday" class="blkBorder img-share"/> Copy link to paste in your message +5 <img id="i-5cdc4b3a0db188df" src="https://i

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jpg" height="387" width="634" alt="" class="blkBorder img-share"/> Copy link to paste in your message +5 <img id="i-cd42245c2f1bcb09" src="https://i

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jpg" height="753" width="634" alt="" class="blkBorder img-share"/> Copy link to paste in your message Reed told The Tennessean he was not sure exactly how or when the Atlanta native was hurt before coming to the sideline late in the second quarter of a 31-27 loss to Vanderbilt

AdChoicesADVERTISINGinRead invented by Teads'He came to the sideline and just kind of collapsed there,' Reed said

Photos from the scene show medics treating Abercrombie on the sideline.   Share this article Share Abercrombie was given oxygen, then taken away on a stretcher

He redshirted at Illinois in 2016 and played 11 games in 2017 before transferring to Tennessee State

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker came into Saturday's game as the Tigers' second-leading tackler

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jpg" height="452" width="634" alt="" class="blkBorder img-share"/> Copy link to paste in your message He was credited with five tackles and a quarterback hurry before being injured

 After the game ended, players from both teams joined Reed and Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason for a prayer for Abercrombie, his family and the Tigers

 'Football's what we do, not who we are,' Mason said. 'I know what it is to be a coach

I know what it is to have a player who's injured. At the end of the day, when serious injuries happen, football becomes secondary

'Vanderbilt's football team also tweeted about the football star.  'Our thoughts are with the Abercrombie family, their friends and the entire Tennessee State community during this difficult time,' the tweet read