'He worked really hard': Klein Oak dedicates remainder of season to injured senior RB Garrett

The Klein Oak Panthers football team is dedicating the remainder of its season to senior running back Charles "Tank" Garrett, who sustained multiple injuries in a car accident on Sept. 12.

"Terrible situation for an outstanding member of the Klein Oak Football family,” the program’s Twitter account posted on Sept. 14. "Prayers, contributions and sharing this would go a long way in this healing process.”

VYPE Houston reported that Garrett was the passenger in the vehicle that was involved in the accident, which occurred two days after Klein Oak’s 43-21 loss to Humble Atascocita.

Garrett sustained a shattered femur, broken wrist, punctured lung, liver and kidney, and has undergone three operations.

First-year head coach Brandon Carpenter told VYPE Houston Garrett has been well-known around the fieldhouse for quite some time.

"He had worked really hard going into his senior season and was in the best shape of his high school career," Carpenter said. "Tank is a soft spoken young man that always has a smile on his face. He is one of our senior representatives on our Football Leadership Council."

Garrett, a senior, had his sights set on going out in a blaze of glory.

As of the Panthers' 41-6 season-opening win over Dekaney, "Tank" had bulldozed his way to an astonishing 12.5 yards a carry, VYPE Houston reported.

Carpenter added that the speedster was getting serious looks from college recruiters prior to the tragedy that befell him.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help cover any expenses Garrett may incur.

Garrett, who comes from a single-family household in which his mother is the sole breadwinner, is expected to undergo a long and arduous recovery.

Trish Fleming, the page’s organizer on Sept. 17 wrote an update to say that she bought a computer for Garrett to watch his team.

“He is with you all in spirit and is doing a lot of coaching from the bed,” she said.