Tag: Greg Brooks Jr.

Brian Kelly gives latest update on Greg Brooks Jr.

On Saturday, Brian Kelly was able to provide us with the latest update on Greg Brooks Jr.’s health and where he was at in his journey.

Last season, the LSU football team was hit with the news that one of their leaders had a bigger war he was fighting. [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer.

In October, Brooks underwent brain surgery while players and coaches alike shared tributes to him online and encouraged him to keep pushing forward through the tough times. It has been five months since his surgery and there have not been a lot of updates.

On Saturday, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] was able to provide us with the latest update on Brooks’ health and where he was at in his journey.

“We haven’t gotten much information over the last month because of where he is,” Kelly said, per On3. “We know he’s in intensive daily rehabilitation. He’s up, walking, doing all those things. Doing all of the occupational rehabilitation. It’s just a slow process. But everything is coming back. It’s just a slow, slow process.”

The process is slow but we are all hoping and praying that Brooks Jr. will come out strong on the other side of this trial.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

LOOK: Jayden Daniels spends birthday at Raising Cane’s bike giveaway, accepts $25,000 check for Greg Brooks Victory Fund

After a special year, Jayden Daniels used his 23rd birthday to give back to the community.

It’s been a special year for LSU quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], and he chose to spend his 23rd birthday giving back to the community.

Daniels was spotted at the 2023 Raising Cane’s Bike Giveaway, where he also accepted a check for $25,000 from the restaurant on behalf of the Greg Brooks Victory Fund.

Brooks, a veteran defensive back for the Tigers, is currently battling brain cancer and has undergone multiple surgeries after LSU’s team doctors treating him for vertigo found a brain tumor earlier this season.

While Brooks has been sidelined, the team has dedicated the season to him, painting his No. 3 on the field and wearing special helmet decals in honor of the safety, who transferred in from Arkansas ahead of the 2022 season.

If you would like to donate to the Greg Brooks Victory Fund, you can do so by clicking this link.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Arkansas – LSU: LIVE updates, scores and highlights from the first half

Arkansas and LSU are about to get underway from Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. Follow along right here for live first half updates as they happen.

The [autotag]Arkansas Razorbacks[/autotag] (2-0, 0-0 SEC) open conference play against the No. 12 LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge.

Both teams are on opposite trajectories as the Tigers are hitting their stride but the Hogs are having to regroup after a disappointing loss to BYU last week. Under Sam Pittman, the Hogs are 1-2 against the Tigers, with each of those games being decided by only a field goal.

LSU will be without their starting linebacker Omar Speights for a second consecutive week and Arkansas will be without their star running back Rocket Sanders for the third straight week.

LSU safety [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag], who spent three seasons at Arkansas before transferring to Baton Rouge, will also miss tonight’s game as he underwent successful surgery to remove a brain tumor this week. Both teams will be wearing special No. 3 decals on their helmets tonight as a show of support for Brooks.

“The Boot” is on the line and it should be a very raucous environment inside Tiger Stadium. Follow along below for live drive-by-drive and score-by-score updates from Baton Rouge.

Greg Brooks Jr. underwent emergency surgery to remove brain tumor

Former Arkansas and current LSU safety Greg Brooks Jr. had emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor on Friday.

LSU safety Greg Brooks Jr., who played at Arkansas before transferring to the Bayou Bengals, recently had surgery to remove a brain tumor, it was announced Wednesday by his family and confirmed by an LSU athletics spokesman.

Brooks Jr. didn’t play against Mississippi State and will not be playing Saturday night against the Razorbacks.

“Greg Jr. was diagnosed last week with a large brain tumor that required emergency surgery,” Brooks’ family said in a statement. “Doctors successfully performed the procedure Friday to remove the mass, and we are awaiting biopsy results.”

His status for the remainder of the season is still up in the air, as he and his family await biopsy results.

In the two games Brooks Jr. had played this season, he had accumulated eight tackles. Brian Kelly dedicated the game ball to him after the Mississippi State game last weekend.

LSU’s Greg Brooks Jr. underwent emergency surgery to remove brain tumor, Brian Kelly says

“Greg continues to fight, and we await further clarity on the extent of that battle,” Greg Brooks Jr.’s family said in a statement.

LSU defensive back [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] underwent emergency surgery Friday to remove a “large brain tumor,” coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said Wednesday during the SEC coaches teleconference.

Brooks had apparently been dealing with vertigo during the preseason, and after another episode of dizziness last Wednesday, the team decided to get an MRI for Brooks, which revealed the tumor.

Kelly said that it remains too early to know whether Brooks will be able to return to the field this season.

Brooks was a surprise scratch from the Mississippi State game on Saturday. Kelly declined to go into detail at the time, only referring to Brooks’ unavailability as being due to a medical emergency.

“Greg Jr. was diagnosed last week with a large brain tumor that required emergency surgery,” Brooks’ family said in a statement. “Doctors successfully performed the procedure Friday to remove the mass, and we are awaiting biopsy results.

“Greg continues to fight, and we await further clarity on the extent of that battle. 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.”

We join the rest of the LSU community in wishing Brooks a speedy and successful recovery.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Former Arkansas and current LSU safety, Greg Brooks Jr., to miss Saturday’s game, per Brian Kelly

Former Arkansas and current LSU defensive back Greg Brooks Jr. will miss a second straight game according to coach Brian Kelly.

Former Arkansas defensive back [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] will not be on the field for the No. 12 LSU Tigers this Saturday, according to head coach Brian Kelly.

Brooks did not travel with the team to Starkville over the weekend as he is dealing with what Kelly referred to as a “medical emergency.”

At his press conference on Monday, Kelly didn’t provide any details or clarification on Brooks’ condition, only that he would not be available when LSU plays Arkansas on Saturday night.

“I don’t have a lot that I can report on Greg, it is a family matter so I am not going to speak on the family’s behalf,” Kelly said. “If there’s anything I can get to you further after I speak with the family, we’ll certainly give you the information. But Greg is dealing with a medical emergency, and he will not be available.”

Brooks played for the Razorbacks from 2019-21 before transferring to his home state of Louisiana to play for the Tigers. His final two seasons in Fayetteville were under [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag], who mentioned Brooks at the start of his weekly press conference on Monday.

“Greg was a wonderful kid when he was here and did a great job for us,” Pittman said. “Whatever it may be, I want him and his family and LSU to know that we’re concerned, we’re praying for him and we hope that he has a speedy recovery.”

In Brooks’ absence, LSU will continue to look to Andre Sam to start in his place.

LSU State of the Program: Secondary looks to build a foundation

Here’s what to expect from LSU’s secondary this year and moving forward.

Thinking about the lead-up to last season, I think I wrote more about LSU’s new-look secondary than anything else. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] rebuilding the room from scratch was a major storyline.

A year later, I’m getting deja vu. LSU, once again, has taken to the portal to fill out the secondary.

Several of last year’s additions were on the older side, approaching the end of their eligibility or in the case of [autotag]Mekhi Garner[/autotag] and [autotag]Jay Ward[/autotag], ready to declare for the draft.

[autotag]Jarrick Bernard-Converse[/autotag], [autotag]Joe Foucha[/autotag] and [autotag]Colby Richardson[/autotag] are gone, too.

A few younger players choose to exit through the portal. [autotag]Raydarious Jones[/autotag], [autotag]Jaelyn Davis-Robinson[/autotag] and [autotag]Damarius McGhee[/autotag] will all be playing elsewhere.

There’s no cause for concern yet with some of the portal’s best corners set to wear purple and gold. Here’s what the group looks like in 2023 and beyond.

Three LSU players among ESPN’s top transfers in college football this season

LSU’s transfer haul is a major reason Year 1 under Brian Kelly has been such a success so far.

The roster rebuild LSU undertook this offseason under first-year coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] simply wouldn’t have been possible prior to the transfer portal era.

Heading into last year’s Texas Bowl, LSU had just 39 available scholarship players. After a mass exodus of talent to the transfer portal and the draft, things looked like they could be dire in Baton Rouge in 2022.

But Kelly quickly flipped the script, bringing in a talented haul of transfers. Many of those players are currently starting for the 6-2 Tigers, and three of them were named among the top 50 transfers in college football this season by ESPN. Former players [autotag]Trey Palmer[/autotag] and [autotag]Dwight McGlothern[/autotag], who transferred to Nebraska and Arkansas, respectively, are also listed.

Here’s where each LSU player stacks up.

Greg Brooks Jr. gets the game ball against Auburn

Brooks had an interception late in the fourth quarter that sealed the win.

“He takes what he wants.”

That was the saying fans always used to describe former LSU safety [autotag]Tyrann Mathieu[/autotag]. On Saturday night, when the Tigers needed it the most, [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag] did his best honey badger impression.

LSU was clinging to a 21-17 lead with 2:25 left in the fourth quarter, and Auburn was driving down the field. On second and eleven from the LSU 36-yard line, Robby Ashford tried to hit former LSU receiver [autotag]Koy Moore[/autotag] on a curl route over the middle.

Brooks had other plans.

He stole the ball out of the hands of Moore and returned it to the Auburn 46-yard line before Ashford took him down. That interception sealed the victory for LSU as the Tigers would pick up a first down on their next drive and run the clock out.

He received the game ball for his efforts.

When [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] and his teammates needed him the most, Brooks showed up and made what could be the play of the season so far.

[mm-video type=video id=01gecxrsspx7fdmvzwqp playlist_id=01eqbz5s7cf4w69e0n player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gecxrsspx7fdmvzwqp/01gecxrsspx7fdmvzwqp-011da33f501d706480c22170dbcf34ca.jpg]

[listicle id=58757]

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Brian Kelly has high expectations for LSU’s safety group

Kelly praised the development of some of the veterans in the defensive backfield.

Safety has been a point of concern for LSU these last couple of years.

There have been injuries, blown coverages, and talented players coming up a little bit short. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] spoke about the safety group during his radio show on Thursday night, and he said he feels good about where that group is at.

“The safety play has really picked up for us,” Kelly said, “I think Jay Ward’s been really solid for us. I think Greg Brooks has come in from Arkansas and really kind of settled us down at the nickel position with [autotag]Sage Ryan[/autotag].”

On the other side of Ward is [autotag]Major Burns[/autotag]. Kelly had high praise for him too, saying he’s “galvanized” that back end for the defense. Kelly added that Burns is “really smart” and a “great communicator.”

LSU should have its best safety play since Grant Delpit left after 2019. It sounds like Burns and Ward could both be in line for breakout years. If things go right, LSU will have one of the best safety duos in the SEC.

Pair that up with what LSU has at linebacker and the defensive line, and teams are going to have a hard time working the middle of the field against this defense. That will make things a lot easier for whoever is starting at cornerback on the outside.

[mm-video type=video id=01gaw89ez85ttrbvk1kw playlist_id=01eqbz5s7cf4w69e0n player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gaw89ez85ttrbvk1kw/01gaw89ez85ttrbvk1kw-500d368cb1d4f4c58fc45e3836d0e58b.jpg]

[listicle id=56576]

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.