DeSoto Player Partially Paralyzed

A junior varsity football player at DeSoto High School was seriously injured during spring football practice Wednesday night.

According to the school district, 16-year-old sophomore Corey Barner injured his spinal cord during a tackled on the field.

Spokeswoman Beth Trimble said Barner was rushed to the hospital. He was in surgery for about 7 hours Friday so doctors could repair a cervical vertebrae fracture.

DeSoto coaches said Barner -- a defensive back -- was using proper form on the field. His head must have been slightly in the wrong place when he took the hard hit, they said.

Following the surgery, they said he was able to move his hands and fingers, but not his toes.

Barner's family has not released details about his long-term prognosis.