Profiles In Terpage – A Countdown To The Football Season: Max Garcia
By petevolk
A recurring series where we will profile every player and coach on Maryland’s roster, counting down to kick-off against Miami. Thanks to OBNUG for the idea.
Today we profile a Maryland’s probable starter at left tackle against Miami.
Max Garcia, Sophomore, Offensive Tackle
Stats:
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 290
Ratings: Three stars, #67 in Georgia, #65 offensive tackle by Rivals; three stars, #48 offensive tackle by Scout; three stars, #52 offensive tackle by ESPN; #69 offensive tackle in 2014 draft class by NFL Draft Scout
40-yard dash time: 5.1
High School Stats (Senior Year): 50 pancakes
High School: Norcross High School (Norcross, Ga.)
How’d He Get To College Park?
Max Garcia was an extremely productive lineman at Norcross, as evidenced by that ridiculous 50 pancake total for his senior year, and was a highly touted recruit coming out of Georgia.
Offered by Alabama, Clemson, Michigan State, South Carolina and a host of others, Garcia ended up at College Park thanks to the recruiting effort by Tom Brattan and the relationship the young lineman formed with the coaches.
The coaches were arguably more excited about Garcia than any of the other 2010 recruits last year, and he immediately became a candidate to burn his redshirt and play as a true freshmen. With Justin Gilbert, R.J. Dill and Paul Pinegar available as tackles, however, the Terps were hoping to keep Garcia on the sidelines, making him eligible for a fifth year. However, when Justin Lewis and Bennett Fulper were both injured during the Florida State game, Garcia was used as an emergency sub. He also played as a reserve against East Carolina.
Also an excellent student, Garcia got into the journalism school at Maryland, and is majoring in broadcast journalism.
More after the jump.
Nickname:
“Grandisimo”
Career Highlight:
Getting to play against Florida State and in the Military Bowl.
Career Lowlight:
Having to play against Florida State and in the Military Bowl.
Arbitrary Top Five List:
Division I Players in 2010 Class From Norcross High School:
1. Adrian Hubbard (Alabama)
2. Max Garcia (Maryland)
3. Delino Deshields (LSU)
4. Geremy Davis (Connecticut)
5. Arius Wright (Western Kentucky)
Dream Season:
He so thoroughly impresses in the Miami game that players are moved around once Justin Gilbert returns so he, Gilbert and R.J. Dill can all start.
Nightmare season:
Gets schooled against Miami, gets sent straight to the bench.
2011 Prospectus:
If you asked me, gun to my head, which offensive position was most important in football, I’d probably say quarterback. Number two? Left tackle.
As it currently stands, Max Garcia, a true sophomore with two games of playing time under his belt, is Maryland’s opening day starting left tackle. But do not despair, Terp Nation, because there are two reasons why this is misleading.
- Garcia is extremely talented. The dude was offered a scholarship to Alabama, and has reportedly thoroughly impressed the coaches in his time in College Park.
- Justin Gilbert is the real starting left tackle, he’s just hurt.
So, if all goes according to plan, Garcia will probably only start one game, making way for Gilbert and then spending the rest of the year as the top reserve offensive tackle. However, as we mentioned in the “Dream Season” category, if he plays well enough, Maryland might consider moving some guys around to play their five best linemen. Our clubhouse favorite? Gilbert-Gonnella-Fulper-Garcia-Dill, moving Garcia to right guard in place of the two-headed Josh Cary/Pete White monster (and trust us, if you’ve ever seen either of them, that is a frightening monster).
Garcia is an extremely hyped O-Line prospect with a ton of talent but little experience. Wait, where we heard this before? Pete White, Pete DeSouza, De’Onte Arnett (sort of). So hey, Maryland’s got a lot of talent on the O-line. There’s got to be some successful combination they can pull together, right?
Up Next:
Our next player shares his name with an albino computer scientist on the Venture Bros.