Brian Kelly thanks Sam Pittman, Arkansas for their love, support of Greg Brooks Jr. after tumor diagnosis

Arkansas and LSU came together Saturday for a battle on the gridiron, but the matchup turned out to be about more than football.

Former Arkansas DB turned LSU player Greg Brooks Jr. was diagnosed recently with a large brain tumor, which required emergency surgery. The Razorbacks, who hosted the matchup, sent love and support toward Brooks and the Tiger family in the wake of his procedure.

Arkansas chose to slap the number ‘3’ decal on their helmets in honor of Brooks, which is the number he wears for the Tigers. Head coach Brian Kelly thanked Arkansas and Sam Pittman after the fact.

“Thank you, Sam Pittman and the Arkansas Football program for your support of Greg,” Kelly said, via X. “This is bigger than football. Please continue to keep the Brooks family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Brooks spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career with the Razorbacks, during which he combined for 112 total tackles, eight PBUs and four interceptions — one of which he returned for a touchdown in 2020.

He arrived in Baton Rouge last offseason and put up career numbers, totaling 63 tackles, one sack, a forced fumble and two interceptions. Brooks Jr. was able to play in two games this season against Florida State and Grambling, respectively, and made an impact in both matchups. While his season is more than likely finished — as there’s no timetable for such a serious procedure — Saturday was an important reminder that his health means more than any game ever could.

During the lead-up to Saturday’s game, Kelly discussed Brooks’ condition post-op during the weekly SEC teleconference, noting how the team discovered his condition after repeated bouts with vertigo during fall camp, which bled into the 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.”

Greg Brooks’ family also released a statement about his status earlier in the week.

“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.”