After a week off of practice, Auburn returned to the field Tuesday with high spirits, but some heartbreaking news emerged the same day.
Brodarious Hamm, an incoming offensive lineman who signed with the Tigers in February, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer. Coach Gus Malzahn confirmed the news regarding the 6-foot-5, 320-pound tackle.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family,” Malzahn said. “He’s a young man with a fine family. He’s got a great attitude.”
Hamm was rated as a three-star prospect out of Griffin, Georgia, and was part of an Auburn recruiting class that was the No. 9-ranked class in the nation, according to 247sports.com.
"At first, I was scared," Hamm told 247Sports. "But I talked with the doctor and he said I'd be alright. He was just like, 'This is nothing to worry about. Believe in the treatment and believe in God and everything will be all right.'"
Despite the circumstances, Malzahn ensured Hamm had Auburn’s full support.
“We’re going to be there for him, he’s going to get through this, and we expect him to be with us after a short period of time after he gets healthy,” Malzahn said.
Hamm becomes the second Auburn recruit in the class of 2016 to be diagnosed with cancer. Tashawn Manning, a defensive tackle from Apopka, Florida, was diagnosed with leukemia in December and is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments in Orlando, Florida.
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