Creating legacy: Southlake Carroll utility man, son of late Cowboys star embraces new role
It’s been a whirlwind of a season for Southlake Carroll and the Dragons’ senior Christian Tyree Glenn.
Glenn, typically a backup receiver and a special teams player, was thrown into the starting running back role for the Dragons during the playoffs.
Southlake Carroll and Glenn faced Longview in a Class 6A Divison Two state semifinal at SMU’s Ford Stadium at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Carroll entered the season using two elite running backs, senior USC-commit Riley Wormley and junior Baylor-commit Davis Penn. Southlake’s “two-headed Dragon” was one of the greatest threats in Texas high school football, with Wormley and Penn averaging 116.6 and 77.1 yards per game, respectively.
The Dragons’ offense, however, had to deal with two brutal losses. Wormley suffered a season-ending injury in September, and Penn suffered an ACL injury during the playoff’s area round.
Southlake Carroll running back coach Skyler Wetzel said Wormley and Penn were the “heartbeat of the football team.”
“They’re great people, they’re great human beings, they’re tremendous leaders,” Wetzel said. “There were a lot of heartbroken kids in our locker room when those injuries occurred. That speaks to the character of those two kids.”
With both stars unavailable, Southlake Carroll needed someone to step up.
Glenn was selected to fill the void.
“It really means a lot, especially since most of my career, I haven’t had a role like this,” Glenn said. “Until recently, I was mainly a special teams guy and a backup. I was making plays whenever I could. I really took it to heart, though. I kept working every day in hopes a chance would eventually come up for me to show out.”
The opportunity arose, and Wetzel said it was a “no-brainer” to rely on Glenn due to his prior knowledge of playing the position, clear athletic ability and strong work ethic.
“He was our best option, and so we went with it, and he has run with it,” Wetzel said. “He has done a really good job. He is a smart kid.”
Southlake Carroll head coach Riley Dodge has called Glenn a Swiss Army Knife, a special teams warrior and a “freakin competitor.”
Wetzel agreed with Dodge, citing his versatility.
“He is one of our best run-blockers,” Wetzel said. “He’s one of our best pass-protectors. I think he could probably go play defensive back if we ever needed him to.”
Glenn, with the pressure on late in the season, has delivered for Carroll, shouldering running duties effectively. In a 49-42 victory over Frenship, he tallied 71 yards and followed it up with an 87-yard performance in a 42-37 victory over Hebron.
His best performance arguably came in a 56-45 regional final victory against Denton Guyer. Ahead of the game, Glenn knew the rainy, cold conditions meant a run-heavy game that provided a “chance to show out.”
He played through the elements, tallying 32 yards and three touchdowns. Most importantly, according to Wetzel, he protected the football despite the adverse conditions.
“That’s how you end up winning playoff games,” Wetzel said. “Winning the turnover margin, which we were able to do, and he’s a big part of that.”
Wetzel described Glenn as competitive and tough with emotional fortitude.
“He is a really great kid, and I don’t say that lightly,” Wetzel said. “I truly do mean that – as far as character traits go, he’s extremely even keel. He’s extremely consistent. He’s always focused. He’s always there with you. He’s coachable. He’s responsive.
“Whenever he makes a mistake, he is never going to make it again.”
Blazing your own path, creating your own legacy
Christian Glenn is the son of Terry Tyree Glenn, a NFL player who played for the Cowboys, Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots. Terry Tyree Glenn died in a car accident in 2017 at 43 years of age.
He earned AFC Rookie of the Year honors in 1996 and continued to build a stellar career.
One of his 44 NFL career touchdowns was the first passing touchdown of Tom Brady’s career. He is a one-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl champion.
Christian Glenn was amazed by his father’s career and mentioned his story is even more inspiring, considering his rough upbringing. Glenn mentioned his father, who was a walk-on at Ohio State, had a life that revolved around football and not much else.
“He took it all the way as long as he could and made the best out of it,” Christian Glenn said. “The reason why I started playing was my dad – to be like him. I really just want to be that guy.”
The son never saw his father play live but witnessed his greatness through highlights.
“I definitely see his playstyle in me,” Glenn said. “Especially at receiver, because he used his speed a lot. He just ran right by you, and they couldn’t catch him.”
He wears No. 83 for Southlake Carroll, the same number his father wore in the NFL and as a Buckeye. He does it to honor his memory.
“I can represent him on the field and be connected to how he plays,” Glenn said. “Especially when I’m seeing the jersey on my shoulder pads and putting it on. That makes me play better, too.”
Part of his motivation is to “make his family proud.”
“They all believe in me,” Glenn said. “They all talk to me a lot, saying how they want this for me and how I need to keep pushing forward, no matter how hard he gets.
“I want to be able to get to the next level and hopefully get to the professional level and prove to them that what they said really matters, and I took that to heart.”
Glenn has waited patiently for an opportunity, which can be challenging for a talented senior. Wetzel emphasized Glenn’s ability to weather storms and said it’s showing in his play.
“I think he is blazing his own path,” Wetzel said. “He is creating his own legacy here at Southlake, and he’s creating his own legacy as a person and a football player.”
A dream to play for Southlake Carroll and the next level
Southlake Carroll has a storied football tradition with yearly deep playoff runs and eight state championships. Glenn knew he wanted to represent Carroll against the best Texas football has to offer.
“Ever since I was a kid, I knew the team and how everyone said how good they were,” Glenn said. “I’m in a pretty football-dominant town.”
Ahead of his high school career, Glenn sought the respect of his teammates and coaches. He knew the best way to achieve that was to put his head down and work.
“At Southlake, being a hard worker is what we’re about,” Glenn said. “So, if you’re not like that, there’s really no point in playing.”
As a senior, Glenn has earned the respect of the program. Now, his goal is to help Southlake Carroll make the state championship with a win over Longview. He also wants to showcase he can play at the next level.
“I’m playing against like D1 players now, and I’m showing that I can compete against them and make plays against them, so I don’t let it get to me that I probably won’t play for a top D1 school,” Glenn said. “I’m not letting that get to my head.
“I don’t think coaches look for my type of player. But when it comes to playing at the next level, I know I can keep playing how I’m playing, and hopefully I get my chance.”
Glenn knows he doesn’t have loads of recruitment attention, and he isn’t your typical starting running back for a championship contender. At the same time, he doesn’t care.
“I’ll be doing the same exact same thing with what God has given me,” Glenn said. “I think the biggest thing is that before, I wasn’t really doing much, but suddenly my name is called on.
“I get to be the player. I get to be the guy.”
This story was originally published December 12, 2024 at 1:01 PM.
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