AMES — On Tuesday, Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell gave an update on tight end Ben Brahmer, who was taken to the hospital after he collapsed on the field during the Cyclones’ Nov. 1 loss to Arizona State.
After taking a big hit on an incomplete pass, Brahmer suddenly collapsed in the fourth quarter of the Cyclones’ 24-19 loss. He was placed on a stretcher and carted off, then taken immediately to Mary Greeley Medical Center and was discharged hours later on the same day.
His availability is uncertain moving forward, but the Cyclones are glad to have him back in good spirits following his scare on Saturday.
“Availability, we’ll just have to see,” Campbell said of Brahmer. “I think that’s going to be a process to kind of physically get him to where he’s capable of getting back on the football field, but obviously, as frustrating as Saturday was with the result, I think the greatest news ever was it was a major scare more than it was something that could have been really, really scary. I think how he’s handled it has been incredible, and honestly, even how our kids handled it, I don’t know if I’ve ever been in that stadium and felt that during my time here.”
Brahmer exited the game after making three catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. The tight end leads the team in receptions (32) and receiving touchdowns (four). He also has 365 receiving yards this season, the second-most on the Cyclones behind Brett Eskildsen.
After fulfilling post-game duties and media obligations, Campbell hustled over to Mary Greeley Medical Center to see Brahmer.
“Honestly, as Ben was getting carted off, he said, ‘Man, I’ll be back out here in a couple minutes,’ and if you know Ben, that’s Ben,” Campbell said. “So, I at least felt like he was in a good spot leaving the stadium, but it was really good to get over there to see him in a great spot. He was getting discharged as I was getting over there, so to me, the relief of what he means to our program, what he’s about, it doesn’t matter if it’s Ben Brahmer or any other young man in our football program. The reality of it is, those are really scary situations and those are really challenging, and that’s part of football sometimes.
“Ben was awesome getting discharged, his grandparents were here, his sisters were here, his mom was here, and it was great to see them and the relief of, ‘Man, my son’s OK and walking out of the hospital,’ kind of gave you a little perspective on Saturday.”
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at erapay@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell gives Ben Brahmer injury update
Reporting by Eugene Rapay, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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