Eric LeGrand's Recovery: Paralyzed Rutgers Player Continues To Make Gains

Eric LeGrand Signed By Greg Schiano's Buccaneers

Eric LeGrand Still Making Progress

PHOTO: Eric LeGrand Makes Sports Illustrated 'Moment Of The Year' Cover

PHOTO: Eric LeGrand Is Sitting Up, And That's A Great Thing

Eric LeGrand Is Walking On A Treadmill, Staying Positive As Always

VIDEO: Eric LeGrand Leads Rutgers Football Onto The Field

Eric LeGrand To Lead Rutgers Out Of Tunnel, Onto Field Vs. West Virginia

Rutgers takes on Big East power West Virginia this Saturday, but the Scarlet Knights get the Mountaineers at home. And they'll have a stirring moment to top most stirring moments before the game, when Eric LeGrand leads the team out of the tunnel.

LeGrand, who was briefly paralyzed after a hit on a kickoff return in 2010, is now on the road to recovery, and one of college football's more inspirational tales. He's been doing radio analysis for Rutgers and in-studio analysis for CBS and SNY, and is scheduled to add ABC to that list this Saturday.

But no other public event on his comeback trail would seem to compare to LeGrand returning to the field to lead his teammates onto it. He seems to be just as excited, tweeting "Can't wait to lead the team out of the tunnel on Saturday. I hope to see you all there."

For more on Eric LeGrand's condition and for all your Rutgers athletics news, visit SB Nation's On The Banks.

Eric LeGrand Is Coming To A Television Near You

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Eric LeGrand Joins Rutgers Football Radio

Eric LeGrand Tells CBS He's Against Eliminating Kickoffs

Much has been made, in the wake of Eric LeGrand's devastating October 2010 spinal injury, of his head coach's proposal to eliminate the kickoff in college football. Greg Schiano doesn't want to see another kid go down like that, and that's an entirely understandable impulse. LeGrand understand where his coach is coming from -- and disagrees. As told to Brett McMurphy:

"Honestly I think the game is fine the way it is," LeGrand told CBSSports.com. "I don't think you should take kickoffs out [of the game]. I understand why he [Schiano] thinks that way, especially when he sees one of his players go down, he wants to avoid that ever happening again. [...] "My accident was a freak accident. It was one out of five million hits."

LeGrand, who's since progressed to regain limited use of his legs, can reportedly stand for around an hour with a walker to balance him. Keep up with his recovery and other Rutgers athletics news at SB Nation's On The Banks.

Paralyzed Rutgers Player Eric LeGrand On His Feet For 40 Minutes

Big E, Up And At 'Em

Eric LeGrand Update: LeGrand Reporting Progress Moving Arms

Rutgers defender Eric LeGrand, who was paralyzed during a kickoff against Army last October, reports that he's "moving the arms little by little." It appears LeGrand's condition continues to improve. A few weeks ago, he described the progress he was making with his arms:

"I can move my arm out to the side. I can move it about 45 degrees to the right and about 30 degrees to the left. I have a lot more movement now."

It's great to hear that he's taking steps toward recovering. He's already progressed well beyond where doctors thought he would at the time of the injury - they said he would never talk or eat solid foods, Scarlet Report writes. Now, he does both.

In fact, LeGrand spoke at a comedy event in February, and he also recently said that he could feel "twitches" in his body, so it appears he's making progress.

LeGrand's injury was among the worst in a football season characterized by violent hits. Let's hope for his continued recovery.

For more on Eric LeGrand's condition and for all your Rutgers athletics news, visit SB Nation's On The Banks.

Eric LeGrand Reports Progress In Recovery From Paralyzing Injury

Paralyzed Rutgers Scarlet Knights defender Eric LeGrand shared a piece of good news with his Twitter followers Monday afternoon. LeGrand, who was hurt during a special teams play that's inspired coach Greg Schiano to try and do something about dangerous kickoff plays, reported he can feel "twitches" in his body. 

LeGrand has previously demonstrated good spirits, made several public appearances and even spoken publicly. His continuing recovery is something every college football fan can root for without reservation.

For more on Eric LeGrand's condition and for all your Rutgers athletics news, visit SB Nation's On The Banks.

Greg Schiano, Inspired By Eric LeGrand Injury, Wants To Change Kickoffs

VIDEO: Eric LeGrand Speaks At Rutgers' Believe Fund Event

Eric Legrand just keeps on surprising us: The Rutgers defensive tackle, paralyzed since injuring his spine during last October's game against Army, was the main attraction at a comedy event on campus this past Saturday, a show put on in support of the Believe Fund, established to help LeGrand and his family in his recovery. Motoring onstage in an electric wheelchair to a thunderous standing ovation, LeGrand spoke briefly to the crowd before turning the mic over to RU alum Bill Bellamy:

"I just want to thank everybody for coming out here tonight. I'm just gonna keep on chopping and doing my rehab."

One Rutgers grad in attendance, attorney/blogger @metschick, spoke with us about the event and seeing LeGrand for the first time since he was carted off that field on a backboard:

When Eric came out, you could feel the energy at the RAC (Rutgers Athletic Center) just swell.  The applause began the moment he was spotted and went on till the host came up.  Bill Bellamy, the headliner, closed the show out and ended his set with an instruction for all of us to yell, "We love you, Eric!"
 
The night was an emotional high from the moment Eric spoke till the very end when we shouted out our words of encouragement to him.

For more on LeGrand and for all your Rutgers athletics news, visit SB Nation's On The Banks.

Eric LeGrand To Appear At Believe Fund Event This Weekend

Here's some truly, actually wonderful news for your Friday afternoon: Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand, paralyzed while making a tackle against Army last October, will attend a team event this weekend, a comedy show to benefit the Believe Fund, a foundation set up by Rutgers after his injury. LeGrand was reported to have regained some feeling in his upper body last month, but to hear people around him tell it, he's made even greater strides since then:

University sports spokesman Jason Baum tweeted that LeGrand will be attending a comedy performance to support his Believe Fund charity.

In a follow-up phone interview, Baum told NBC New York that LeGrand can now sit up in a wheelchair, and recently made his first return visit to the Rutgers campus to join a team meeting.

"He was in great spirits and he was talking," Baum said.

There's nothing else to add to this except to say this absolutely makes our week, and we hope it made yours too. For more information on how you can help the LeGrand family, visit the Believe Fund website, and our Rutgers community, On The Banks.

No Update On Eric LeGrand's Condition

Greg Schiano had no further news to report after Wednesday's practice on Rutgers DT Eric LeGrand, paralyzed from the neck down after an injury sustained on a kickoff return in the Scarlet Knights' Saturday game against Army. SB Nation's Rutgers blog, On The Banks, takes a look at some community reactions to LeGrand's situation:

The broader Rutgers athletics community has done an admirable job in responding to LeGrand's horrific accident. Equally welcome has been the overwhelming reaction from the broader sports universe and across the country and globe. Pittsburgh is doing their part as their football program prepares to host the Scarlet Knights this weekend. RU football has never had a great relationship with radio host Mike Francesa on WFAN (the station has a lot of alumni working behind the scenes however.) However, Francesa yesterday acted with the utmost class and dignity, and deserves to be commended on that account.

The get-well message campaign for LeGrand is still underway, if you'd like to send your thoughts.

Rutgers' Eric LeGrand Paralyzed From Neck Down After Spinal Cord Injury