As happens much too often, a scary scene developed on the field of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Saturday night.
At the end of a Johnny Manziel fourth-quarter run, the Texas A&M quarterback and Ole Miss linebacker Serderius Bryant collided, with the crown of the latter’s helmet slamming into Manziel’s chest. Bryant’s body immediately went limp as he crumpled to the turf, with medical personnel arriving on the scene what seemed like just seconds later.
After a few minutes -- in church-like silence -- Bryant was strapped to a stretcher and taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. The first sign that the injury wasn’t as severe as it initially appeared came as Bryant gave a double thumbs up as he was being take off the field.
The second came Sunday morning when, in a text to Hugh Kellenberger of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, head coach Hugh Freeze said “things look good” as it pertains to Bryant’s prognosis. While the initial diagnosis is a concussion, Freeze said further testing will be done on the player.
Bryant was held overnight for observation for a local hospital.
As for Bryant’s availability for next Saturday’s game against LSU, that has yet to be determined. Through six games, Bryant leads the Rebels in tackles and tackles for loss.