SOTM: Garrett Gifted Football Career

Senior Garrett Nowlan, the starting running back on the Charlotte Catholic varsity football team, has been named December’s Student of the Month. He was chosen for this recognition because of his accomplishments on the field as well as his commitment to academics.

Garrett has been playing football for ten years, and the sport has impacted much of his high school experience. This season, he rushed for over 1,000 yards, led the team in touchdowns, and served as running backs captain. He was also selected for the Queen City Senior Bowl, which showcases some of the top players in the region.

Garrett has learned to handle balancing both football and academics over his years on the team. Sundays have become the day he relies on to reset and prepare for the week ahead. He said, “What I’ve learned is that it requires a lot of work on Sundays to prepare.” Garrett also takes advantage of any spare time during the school day, whether it be during break, a free period, or at the end of class. This helps him finish many of his assignments before practice or games.

Garret dodging a tackle (Credit: Charlotte Catholic High School)

While Garrett has not decided if he will continue playing football in college, he is confident about what he wants to study. He plans to pursue a business degree with a focus on economics. He is keeping his options open as he looks at different schools. 

He has always played running back, and much of his understanding of the position comes from his father, whom he considers his biggest influence. “He’s been there to train me and teach me the fundamentals,” Garrett said. He also looks up to Christian McCaffery because of his play style and how grounded he is despite all the attention he gets as one of the top players in the NFL. 

Garrett’s training schedule exemplifies the level of dedication he has to football. During the season, he practices five days a week for about three hours and lifts on the weekends. In the offseason, he continues to lift and train on his own for about an hour and a half each day.

Garrett’s consistency and work ethic, both on the field and in the classroom, make him an important member of the Catholic community.