Tennessee State Linebacker Christion Abercrombie in Critical Condition After Injury

File photo showing players of the Tennessee State Tigers during the Sept. 29 game against the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville, Tenn., during which Christion Abercrombie sustained a head injury. Abercrombie remains in critical condition. Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Tennessee State Tigers linebacker Christion Abercrombie remains in critical condition after sustaining a head injury during a Sept. 29 football match and undergoing emergency surgery.

Abercrombie was taken to a hospital after collapsing on the sidelines of Saturday’s game against the Vanderbilt Commodores, according to the Tennessee State University football program officials.

“He was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and remains under observance,” officials said in a tweet. “We ask for your prayers at this time.”

Tigers coach Rod Reed told The Tennessean he was not sure exactly how or when the Atlanta native was hurt before coming to the sideline late in the second quarter.

Head coach Rod Reed of the Tennessee State Tigers during the first half of a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Vanderbilt Stadium on Sept. 29, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

‘‘He came to the sideline and just kind of collapsed there,’’ Reed said, The Boston Globe reported.

Oxygen was administered to the injured Abercrombie, and then he was taken away on a stretcher.

A Tennessee State Tigers player misses a field goal against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the first half at Vanderbilt Stadium on Sept. 29, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

The linebacker redshirted at Illinois in 2016 and played 11 games in 2017 before transferring to Tennessee State, according to theTSU Tigers official website. He came into Saturday’s game as the Tigers second-leading tackler and was credited with five tackles and a quarterback hurry before being injured.

Players from Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University gathered at midfield when Saturday’s game was over to pray for Abercrombie, The Tennessean reported.

‘‘Football’s what we do, not who we are,’’ Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said, according to The Boston Globe. ‘‘I know what it is to be a coach. I know what it is to have a player who’s injured. At the end of the day, when serious injuries happen, football becomes secondary.’’

The 6-foot-1-inch tall and 230-pound Abercrombie graduated from Westlake High School in Atlanta in 2016. He helped lead WHS to a 10-3 record in 2015 and earned the title of Defensive Player of the Year for Georgia Region 3 (AAAAAA), according to the TSU website.