Brian Kelly shares update on the recovery of Greg Brooks Jr.
LSU head coach Brian Kelly provided an update on the recovery of Tigers safety Greg Brooks Jr. on Monday.
Brooks was suffering from a repeated instance of dizziness and vertigo at a practice two weeks ago which resulted in a medical emergency, as he was diagnosed with a brain tumor that required emergency surgery. The procedure was done on Friday and doctors successfully removed the mass, and the defensive back is now on the road to recovery.
“Greg is making progress, and all I can tell you is this is such a long and lengthy process,” Kelly said. “And as of Saturday, which was the last report, I’m gonna be there today, I’ll go there today. So many people want to get there, and I’m sure so many here too, but he needs rest. He needs to recover and when you have a lot of people going there it just takes a lot of his energy away from him.”
Brooks spent the first three seasons of his college career with Arkansas before transferring to LSU, with the two teams facing off this past weekend and honoring him in the process. The beloved safety likely has a long list of visitors hoping to see him following his procedure, which becomes more and more realistic the more he’s able to rest and heal up.
“So he’s starting to make the kind of recovery that his doctors want and we’re just obviously every single day getting we’re to the point where he’s making that recovery necessary for him to be up and around,” Kelly said. “So we’re making progress.”
Brooks started 13 games last season in his first season with LSU, and between his career with the Razorbacks and the Tigers has made 46 starts with 186 tackles, 9.0 tackles for a loss, a sack, a forced fumble, six interceptions and, 19 pass breakups.
His future regarding a return to football along with the extent of the severity and recovery of his brain condition are still uncertain, which was revealed through a Twitter post shared by his family following his surgery.
“Doctors successfully performed the procedure Friday to remove the mass, and we are awaiting biopsy results,” Brooks’ family wrote. “We are grateful for the work and the care of these medical staff helping Greg through these challenges and for the concern and love poured out by so many in the Louisiana, Arkansas and national sports communities. That means the world to us in this difficult time.”
“Greg continues to fight, and we await further clarity on the extent of that battle,” his family wrote. “His incredible strength of character gives us confidence, but we also know that he needs our support now more than ever. Please keep Greg and our family in your prayers.”