NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Former Tennessee State University football player Christion Abercrombie visited campus this weekend for his first homecoming.
Last fall, the 21-year-old suffered a serious head injury during a TSU-Vanderbilt football game that nearly cost him his life.
After spending months in physical therapy, Abercrombie is able to walk and talk which many call a miracle, including his mother.
"A 20-year-old at the time, career taken away from him. He's played ball since the age of five, had dreams of going into the NFL and he worked hard at the age of five to 20 to get there and now he's 21 and he's came to the realistic part of it that 'I'm not going to play football again'. So he wakes up with a smile, he laughs, he prays, he's enjoying life so it's just amazing," Staci Abercrombie said.
Christion says he and his family continue to trust in God that he will make a full recovery. He's considered partially disabled, but they know things can change.
He says his dreams to play football in the NFL are over but he isn't ruling out coaching one day. Walking around campus today he thanked TSU for its support and prayers of others during his recovery.
"It's a blessing I remember when I was learning how to talk, walk, and eat again but now look at me now. It's all God. I can't do nothing but thank God. During that week when I was first in the hospital I asked my family to get closer to God," he said.
The Atlanta native said his mom is his biggest supporter.
Staci said she's truly thankful for the support from TSU and worldwide and while her son continues physical therapy in Atlanta, she hopes people don't forget the 2018 life-altering day in Nashville. Coming back to campus has been therapeutic for her son.
"As a mother, I don't know if I'm taking it too personally, I just expect the officials to take more responsibility and when I say that I expect more support and I expect more support from TSU and even Vanderbilt. He was a student athlete here," she said.
Christion will lead the homecoming parade Saturday as the special presidental grand marshall.
