HOUSTON -- NFL football star Kevin Everett came to Houston Friday to begin the next phase of his recovery.

The Buffalo Bills tight end sustained a spinal cord injury and collapsed on the field during the team's season-opening game. It left him paralyzed from the neck down.

He transferred from a Buffalo, N.Y. hospital to Memorial Hermann TIRR in the Texas Medical Center.

Everett's family lives in Houston.

"He's a very humble young man with a giant-sized heart," said Brian Overstreet, Everett's agent. "From what I see and the spirits that he has with him being upbeat, he's a physically strong kid and mentally strong, I think we could see him walk here soon."

Everett's family said he has already beaten the odds and his mother is confident that he will walk again.

"He's going to show people that he's going to get up and going to walk out, and just be a whole person again," Patricia Dugas said.

Everett lives in Houston during the off-season. He said he knows he has fans all over the country.

"Kevin wanted me to express to his fans thank you for everything. He loves the cards and everything. Everything is nice. He appreciates everything," Dugas said.

It is not yet known how long Everett will be hospitalized.

Everett's family asked his fans to continue to pray for his recovery.

Memorial Hermann TIRR, a regional spinal cord injury system since 1972, has been named one of the leading rehabilitation hospitals by U.S. News and World Report for 18 consecutive years, according to hospital officials.