STEPHENVILLE – Zach Shaver, 18, a football player at Tarleton State University, passed away Monday morning at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital-Fort Worth after a head injury suffered Saturday during a spring practice.

Shaver, a redshirt freshman from Wichita Falls (Rider High School) who joined the football team last fall as a defensive lineman, was airlifted to the Metroplex hospital from Tarleton's Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

Shaver was involved in a routine football play when the freshman fell to the ground.  

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of this young student athlete,” said Tarleton athletics director Lonn Reisman. “This is a tragic loss for the Shaver family and my heart goes out to them. I am thankful for our athletic training staff, the emergency medical teams and the hospital staff for their professional response.”

“It is always difficult to loss one of our Tarleton family members, especially when they are so young,” said Tarleton President F. Dominic Dottavio. “Counselors will be on hand to respond to any needs. Lisette and I will keep his family in our thoughts and prayers.”

When Tarleton head coach Cary Fowler was the defensive coordinator at Midwestern State, the Shaver family lived close to the Fowlers.

“Zach was a great young man, and I enjoyed watching him grow up over the years,” Fowler said. “This is a very difficult time for the Shaver family and the Texan football family. Zach was a great person and teammate, and he was a pleasure to coach. We ask that everyone pray for his friends and family to help them through this difficult situation.”

Shaver is survived by his parents, Robbie and Jennifer, and a sister, Emily.

Funeral services have been set for 10 a.m. on Friday, April 2 at the First Baptist Church in Wichita Falls. The visitation is set for Thursday, April 1 at 6 p.m. at the Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home in Wichita Falls.