Tyler Gimbert admitted emotions almost got the best of him last Friday night.

Playing in his first football game in over a year, the Alonso defensive lineman/linebacker helped contribute to his team’s Kickoff Classic victory over Countryside. The Tampa Tribune documented Gimbert’s long road back to the football field, a journey that included sustaining a serious neck injury in last year’s Kickoff Classic that led to the discovery of brain tumors.

Gimbert contributed a couple of tackles, including one for a loss that signaled his return.

“There was just one play that I thought of the hit from last year and I just got so pumped up that before the opposing offensive tackle came off the ball, I was already in the back field and I just completely crushed the running back for a five yard loss,” Gimbert said. “That was the point in the game where I was just going nuts. I was yelling and screaming and
just feeling alive again.”