Former Hoover football player Ben Abercrombie, who suffered a severe neck injury during a Harvard football game, is "regaining some feeling in his arms and legs," according to the Abercrombie family.

Ben also received a phone call on Wednesday from Alabama coach Nick Saban, who offered words of encouragement and comforted the Abercrombies.

"He let our family know that everyone back in Alabama is thinking of us and ready to assist us during Ben's recovery," wrote Ben's father, Marty Abercrombie, in an online medical journal.

Ben Abercrombie injured his neck while making a tackle in a football game against Rhode Island on Sept. 16. He is in a critical care unit at a Rhode Island hospital and is receiving physical and respiratory therapy. He underwent emergency surgery following his neck injury and experienced full paralysis.

"We ask everyone to keep praying that Ben makes a successful transition to breathing without assistance, and then we will shift focus to the paralysis," wrote his father.

The Abercrombies have received tremendous support from Harvard, Hoover, and the New England Patriots since Ben's injury. Representatives for the Patriots have regularly visited the family.

Joseph Goodman is a columnist for Alabama Media Group. He's on Twitter

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