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Former Illini Christion Abercrombie to be discharged, head to rehabilitation

The Tennessee State LB collapsed on the sidelines on Sept. 29.

By Stephen Cohn Updated
Ball State v Illinois Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Oct. 16, 2018 UPDATE

Former Illinois Football LB Christion Abercrombie will be discharged from Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Wednesday, Oct. 17, according to Tennessee State Football’s Twitter account.

Abercrombie will not head to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, a top rehabilitation center for brain injuries.

It’s clearly an amazing recovery after such an uncertain time, and his mom Staci summed it up best.

Oct. 13, 2018 UPDATE

Former Illinois Football LB Christion Abercrombie was upgraded to stable condition on Sunday, according to an update from Tennessee State Football’s Twitter account.

Abercrombie had been in critical condition since sustaining an injury on Sept. 29. According to the tweet, he has been off a ventilator for over 24 hours and is breathing on his own.

Incredible. Absolutely amazing, and the bright light we all needed right now.

ORIGINAL STORY (Sept. 30/Oct. 1)

Former Illinois Football LB Christion Abercrombie remains in critical condition on Sunday night after collapsing on Tennessee State’s sideline during his team’s game at Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Abercrombie, 20, was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and was listed in critical condition after a surgery for a head injury. Abercrombie was unresponsive at the hospital, per the TV broadcast.

The Atlanta native redshirted his 2016 season at Illinois and played in 11 games last season for Lovie Smith’s squad before transferring after the 2-10 campaign. Abercrombie entered Saturday’s game as the Tigers’ second-leading tackler and had five tackles Saturday before he collapsed.

Illinois head coach Lovie Smith opened his press conference Monday with a few words about Abercrombie.

“We had a serious injury this week,” Smith said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his team as they go through this rough time. Injuries happen in this game, but when it touches home, it’s tough. Keep your thoughts and prayers with him.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with Abercrombie’s parents, Derrick and Staci, his brother, D’Shawn, and the Tigers’ football program during this time.

Continue following The Champaign Room for more on Abercrombie’s condition.