This story has been updated.
SOUTH BEND—Eli Raridon, senior tight end for Notre Dame football, said Tuesday evening he was praying for Texas A&M safety Bryce Anderson after their on-field collision sent the Aggies’ senior safety to Memorial Hospital.
“Obviously with an injury like that, I’m praying for Bryce and that he makes a full recovery,” Raridon said after practice. “That’s super scary. It can happen to anyone.”
The Austin American-Statesman reported Tuesday afternoon that Anderson had flown home to College Station, Texas with the A&M team after its 41-40 win over then No. 8 Notre Dame.
It was reported postgame that Anderson had feeling in his limbs, and Aggies coach Mike Elko, Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator in 2017, shared an encouraging update with reporters late Saturday night.
“At this point, all signs are positive,” Elko said. “I don’t think we’ve done every diagnostic test, but so far every test we’ve run through has come back positive.”
On Sunday, Anderson posted the following on social media: “I’m all good; thanks for the prayers! Huge shoutout to my guys for getting the job done!”
Play was stopped for more than 10 minutes Saturday night at Notre Dame Stadium after Anderson was injured late in the first half while tackling Raridon at the end of a 25-yard reception.
Replays showed Anderson’s neck lurching to the left after the side of his helmet met with Raridon’s lowered left shoulder. Team trainers and medical staff attended to Anderson, a 5-foot-10, 186-pound product of Beaumont, Texas.
Rob Hunt, head athletic trainer for Notre Dame, was the first to reach Anderson as he lay face down and motionless after the play near the home sideline.
Eventually, Anderson was moved onto his back as he was fitted with a neck brace, strapped to a gurney and then loaded onto a utility cart for transport out of the stadium as the sellout crowd of 77,622 sat in stunned silence.
Anderson, who made four tackles in the first half, was surrounded by the majority of players from both teams, who walked out and took a knee on the field.
“I thought he hit his teammate (defensive end Cashius Howell),” said Raridon, who is 6-7 and 252 pounds. “I didn’t realize (Anderson) hit me. You saw the replay. He didn’t hit me super hard. He just went at a weird angle.”
Raridon, who has overcome two ACL surgeries since signing with the Irish in December 2021, was heartened to see Anderson give the crowd a thumb’s up as he was being driven off the field.
“That was cool; I was happy,” said Raridon, a Des Moines, Iowa product who got married over the summer. “I’m praying for him and praying that God keeps me and my teammates safe.”
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football tight end sends his prayers to injured Texas A&M safety Bryce Anderson
Reporting by Mike Berardino, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
