Atlanta native undergoes emergency surgery after head injury at college football game

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Hearts are heavy in Nashville, Tennessee, after an Atlanta native suffered a head injury in the second quarter during the Tennessee State vs. Vanderbilt football game Saturday afternoon.

TSU Tigers middle linebacker Christion Abercrombie, who remains in critical condition, was taken to Vanderbilt Medical Center to undergo emergency surgery.

Players from Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University gathered at midfield when Saturday's game was over to pray for the sophomore, according to the Tennessean.

"It was just a football play," said coach Rod Reed Sunday morning on his coaches radio show on WNSR 560-AM/95.9-FM. "He was taking on a block and it wasn't anything malicious or dirty or anything like that. Just an unfortunate situation."

Abercombie transferred to TSU from Illinois, according to the TSU Tigers official website.

Tennessee State Football released the following statement:

He graduated from Westlake High School in Atlanta in 2016. Abercrombie helped lead WHS to a 10-3 record in 2015 and earned the title of Defensive Player of the Year for Georgia Region 3 (AAAAAA).

A GoFundMe page was set up to assist Abercrombie and his family.

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