Hugh Freeze shares update on RB Brian Battie after May shooting

Prayers have poured in around the college football landscape over the last few months for Auburn Tigers running back Brian Battie.

The senior was involved in a shooting back in May that injured multiple people. His brother, Tommy Battie IV, was killed in the shooting. A suspect in the attack was arrested shortly after the incident, which forced Brian Battie onto a respirator and into the ICU.

An update from late May suggested that Battie could be facing permanent paralysis from the shooting. 

While talking to reporters on July 2, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze provided an update on Battie, while sharing that he’s been talking to the player’s family almost daily. 

“He has a road ahead of him that’s challenging, but praise to God that he’s OK,” Freeze revealed to reporters. “He’s alive and recovering and we’re thankful for that.”

In a recent update on the family’s GoFundMe, Battie’s family announced that the Auburn running back continues to recover from the incident, but that he’s continuing to battle through a traumatic brain injury. 

“The past week Brian has made progress each day and as of yesterday, Brian was cleared to eat regular foods with zero restrictions,” the family announced on June 25. “These small victories remind us of Brian’s amazing resilience and strength. Bringing us optimism, hope and joy.”

Battie’s family added that because of the nature of the injury, his visitation remains extremely limited. Despite that, the Auburn community continues to show its support for the senior as he recovers from the tragic shooting.

Author(s)

Tyler Brooke has been covering football for more than 12 years. His experience includes writing for multiple outlets including Bleacher Report, FanDuel, and SB Nation.