Garcia lands a few offers

Hialeah (Fla.) linebacker Andy Garcia recently landed a few early offers and believes another one is on the way.

"I got Central Michigan, Northern Illinois, Illinois State, FIU and hopefully in a few days Vanderbilt," Garcia said.

For the 5-foot-11, 215-pound defender, the early attention is an achievement of a lifelong goal.

"That was always my goal. I always wanted to play football and have my education paid for," Garcia said. Going to college for free while playing the sport I love, that is what drove me to succeed in this sport."

With regards to the interested schools, he is still in the information collection stage of his recruitment.

"I have talked to the coaches and looked up information on their websites," Garcia said. "Some of my past teammates have gone to the schools that are offering me. Central Michigan has a running back that played at my high school a few years back. Vanderbilt just signed our running back from the Class of 2011. With the other schools I have talked with the coaches and I feel good with them. They give me a good vibe."

He hopes to take a few visits to see some college campuses in the near future.

"In a few weeks our coaches are going to take us to a few schools around Florida and I think Alabama," Garcia said. "The Vanderbilt coach also asked me if I wanted to come to their spring game. I told him I would like to but that I have to talk with my head coach about that."

When it comes time to decide, Garcia is looking for a school that has the right mix for him on and off the field.

"I am interested in majoring in criminology," Garcia said. "I want to be comfortable with the coaches. I want coaches who really want me. I want to be somewhere that I feel a big part of and where there is good chemistry, not uncomfortable or out of place, somewhere that feels like home."