Center’s K.J. Garrett Having A ‘Special’ Season For the 3-0 Roughriders

The Center Roughriders are off to a fast start this year on the offensive side of the ball. Senior running back K.J. Garrett as played a big role in that.

Through three games, Garrett has accounted for 579 total yards of offense and has a chance to be “special," according to head coach Kevin Goodwin.

“K.J. (Garrett) came to Center from South Dakota his sophomore year and has been on varsity ever since,” Goodwin said. “Last season he started at safety for us and we felt he could get the job done at running back this season.”

Garrett has 440 yards on 53 carries and four touchdowns this season. The defending district champion in the 100 meters has rushed for 139,169 and 132 yards in the Roughriders’ first three games against Buna, Pine Tree and Atlanta.

When teams stack the box to slow down the run, Goodwin still finds a way to get his running back the ball. Garrett has 13 catches for 139 yards coming out of the backfield. Goodwin says Garrett’s work ethic has helped him out tremendously with his pass-catching ability.

“When we first moved him to running back, his catching skills struggled some but he worked so hard to get better in that part of the game,” Goodwin said.

That work ethic, combined with his natural football ability, are reasons why Goodwin and his staff want to get the ball to Garrett as much possible.

“He’s someone I want to get the ball to 20-25 times a game,” Goodwin said.  "He’s that good.”