Arkansas pays tribute to LSU DB, former Razorback Greg Brooks Jr. following brain surgery

LSU defensive back Greg Brooks Jr. was out of the lineup last weekend for what was initially an ambiguous medical emergency. Shortly after his absence on Saturday, head coach Brian Kelly revealed that Brooks had emergency surgery to remove a brain tumor.

Brooks, a transfer from Arkansas, is reportedly recovering well post-op. And as LSU and Arkansas get ready to play in the Battle for the Boot on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium, the tributes have poured in from both sides.

Arkansas showed off a No. 3 helmet decal the Razorbacks will sport for the game on Saturday night.

Thinking about @Gbrooks5_ tonight on the bayou. pic.twitter.com/wcf5A8uFdj

— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) September 23, 2023

Brooks wore No. 9 while playing at Arkansas, but changed to No. 3 upon transferring to his home state Tigers. LSU will wear the same decal on its helmets, too.

Brooks has a long recovery ahead

During an SEC teleconference call, Kelly noted that he doesn’t know if Brooks will play again yet this fall. The team initially discovered the issue with Brooks after repeated bouts with vertigo in fall camp and early in the 2023 season.

“We were trying to find out what the symptoms were and he had another episode,” Kelly said. “He had dizziness again on Wednesday of last week. Finally we said enough’s enough and we got an MRI and that’s when the tumor was located. So the vertigo was just a symptom of what was obviously a larger issue.”

Brooks is a big part of the LSU secondary, a multi-year starter who has plenty of past production.

In the first two games, Brooks recorded eight tackles and two pass break-ups before leaving the lineup due to the emergency. In five years, Brooks has totaled 186 tackles, 9.0 tackles for a loss, a sack, a forced fumble, six interceptions and 19 pass breakups.

But Kelly said it’s too early to know if Brooks will be able to play again in 2023.

“It’s so hard for me to even know. There are so many unanswered questions,” Kelly said. “I don’t even know that I could even begin to give you the medical pieces relative to the surgery to even give you an educated answer to that. I saw him in the hospital on Sunday. He’s still coming out of heavy sedation, so we weren’t able to have a lucid conversation but I know before he went in he was pretty clear about playing again this year, but that’s Greg Brooks.”

Greg Brooks’ family released a statement about his status on Wednesday morning, as well.

“Doctors successfully performed the procedure Friday to remove the mass, and we are awaiting biopsy results,” the family wrote in a post shared on Twitter. “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 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.”