For Mustangs' Garrison, Faith Is The Way Forward

CHARLESTON, Tenn. -- The scar on the left arm of Zeke Garrison is now merely a reminder of how quickly the fortunes of life can change.

One second Zeke was a two-way star for the Walker Valley Mustangs as a senior linebacker and wide receiver. The next he was on the sideline with a career ending injury that had him questioning his future as a two-sport athlete.

On Aug. 31 of 2024, in just the second game of the season, Garrison caught a pass on an out route from quarterback Dosen Stum.

The big wide receiver turned up the sideline in an effort to pick up as many yards after the catch as possible. In what appeared to be a routine collision with the Polk County defensive back. The contact, however proved to be much more than routine.

Immediately after the impact Garrison, who was also just returning from an ankle injury, realized he had a serious problem and collapsed on the Walker Valley track surface with his dreams of a college scholarship seemingly as broken as his arm.

But, instead of feeling sorry for himself, Garrison immediately began to pray. Not for himself, but for his teammates and those tending to him. Minutes later he arrived at TC Thompson Hospital where a bevy of doctors and a series of x-rays confirmed what he and his family pretty much already knew.

Zeke had broken the humorous on his left arm and would require surgery where a rod and nine screws were placed and screwed into his arm by Dr. Robert Quigley.

“My goal was always to find a place to play and find a home. But, then I got hurt and everything kind of went flashing by,” he recalled. “I ran straight through him, but his helmet him me in my arm at my bicep and I heard a pop. I stepped out of bounds and my arm was kind of swinging and dangling. In that instant I knew it was broken.”

“I knew as soon as it happened football was over for me. I knew everything would be OK, but it was still pretty scary,” he continued. I just started praying, 'God I trust you and whatever your plans are for me this is part of your plan.' I knew it was part of His plan for me and I knew I had God looking out for me. I just tried to set the example for them (teammates). It was out of my control at that point.”

Mustangs head coach Drew Akins realized early the seriousness of the situation.

“It was a very emotional moment. I feel like Zeke has been a part of our program longer than most. I feel like he got to be a part of this program as an eighth grader. He has been with us for a long time. He's played a lot of snaps for us,” said Akins, “When that happened the No. 1 concern for us was the unknown for the future. That is one of the first things you think about. Then you heard Zeke (on the sideline) and all he cared about was his teammates and his trust in God and His plan.

“I told Zeke after and I told his mom after, his testimony that evening was so impactful to people. The number of people who came up and talked to me about that moment will always be something that sticks with me.”

Zeke said his Christianity and faith is what got him through that night and the long road of healing, rehab and recovery.

“It taught me how to look at the game a little bit differently and helped me lead in a way that's just not on the field. I made relationships with my teammates off the field,” he said. “It kind of showed me a life outside of football also. Ever since I've been in high school that's been a big part of my life. It helped me step away and see things from a different perspective.”

To no one's surprise, the injury affected the recruiting process. Coaches who had been interested in the star senior's talents before shied away and eventually cut contact. A process which Garrison said he fully understands.

“For a long time I wouldn't reach out to coaches just because I didn't want to hear them turn me down,” he said.

The only exception was the University of the Cumberlands who still showed interest in Zeke and what he had still to offer. He said he was thankful for them because they took a chance on him and was the only other school other than a few Division III schools willing to give him a chance.

However, the recruiting process didn't end there. Carson-Newman College, in Jefferson City, Tennessee was contacted by Walker Valley head coach Drew Akins and the Eagles crew paid a visit to the home of the Mustangs.

“Luckily, thankfully, Coach Akins went there and he knew some people and let them know; yes, he was injured and didn't play all of his senior year, but he would be willing to go there and work hard and they took his word for it. They took a chance on me,” Garrison remembered. “It was a blessing from them. But, the recruiting process was definitely hard.”

Garrison said the recovery process was a bit intimidating in the early going and he feared the use of his arm may be limited since he could not fully straighten it out. But, over time with his own determination, since he was unable to rehab with a therapist at the time, his mobility returned.

“Moving has been the main key,” he related. “Over time, taking vitamins and letting my bone grow back together has been a waiting game. But, now it's healed and I've started physical therapy. It's healing well and I'm getting strength back in it now.”

Akins said he and Zeke spoke at the hospital and both realized what it was going to take to get him back fully healed and healthy.

“To watch the progress he's made after four months and the opportunity he has now, because he worked so hard to get back and his character means a lot to our program and means a lot to me as his coach,” said Akins. Injury-wise his arm was unusable for an extended period of time. Watching him in basketball I think one of the cooler moments we have had him getting in versus Cleveland and the first shot he takes was a three pointer, nothing but net. It was a really cool moment to see how much that meant to everybody. It was just cool to watch him on the ground literally unable to use his arm to that moment.”

Zeke's determination, patience and faith paid off for the future Eagle when he signed with Carson-Newman Feb. 13 in a ceremony at Walker Valley filled with family, friends and well wishers.

“We all knew Zeke's character. We all knew who he was. But, just watching him grow even more has been special. When something is taken away you have to figure out who you are. Zeke is in a unique spot that he knows who he is without football. He knows who he is without basketball. He knows who he is,” said the coach.

“He's a Christian. He's Mr. Walker Valley. He is friend to everyone. He cares about everyone. Everyone loves him. He knows who he is outside sports which makes him even better at sports. But, watching him, a kid at 18-years old and knows who is, is special. At 35-years old and we get hit with COVID I questioned who I am without football. To see a kid who has football taken away and knows who he is as a person is really encouraging.”

The injury didn't keep Garrison looking on as a spectator though as he donned a Mustangs basketball uniform and played his final year as a contributing member of the team.

“I was scared, obviously, coming off an injury,” he said. “The first game back I was pretty nervous.”

Garrison's determination to get back to doing what he loves came as no surprise to Akins and praised his protege for his maturity and being able to know what has to be done and how to go about it in a fully mature and responsible manner.

“I've said a hundred times adversity is part of life. Adversity is going to happen. I hope this program teaches guys how to handle adversity. This was serious adversity Zeke had to get through. Now he's got an opportunity on the other side of it,” said the coach. “You have two options when you hit adversity; You can quit or you can keep pressing on. Zeke pressed on over and over and over. Because of that he's got an opportunity to go to a great place where he fits so well. I've told their coaches Zeke is a Carson-Newman kid. He is the ultimate Carson-Newman guy. He'll do great there. I'm excited to see what he does there,” Akins continued. “I think the experience he's had over the last six months will make him understand even better not to fight through adversity. But, also just know who he is as a person into the next stage of life. That makes the next stage of life easier.”

With basketball season quickly coming to a close the time to begin serious preparation for his next adventure is fast approaching. Zeke will report to the Eagles in July, but has already been working with speed and agility trainers as well as continuing physical therapy. He feels he will be completely healed and ready to go when the time comes to head for Jefferson City where he hopes to play defensively as a linebacker, but hopes to break into the starting lineup early as a special teams player.

“I think I will be ready,” he said with confidence. “I'm a little on the weaker side with my upper body, But I think I will be ready to go. I have full confidence in myself.”

Although making a name for himself as a member of the Eagles' football team, Garrison said playing the sport he loves is not his end goal. While he intends to do his very best on the football field in Jefferson City, he also plans to give it his all in the classroom to fulfill his true calling.

“I'm going to college to major in business, but minor in Bible. I feel called to go into the ministry,” he acknowledged. “I still don't know what the plan is for me yet, but I want to go into the ministry. God's in control of what might be for me. It might be only a business and reaching out to people in a church or something like that. But, I definitely want to be an outreach to people and communities. I want to try and help people. That's what I want to do.”

(Contact Richard Roberts at richardvol55@yahoo.com)