Garcia sees Bama, Rebs
Tampa (Fla.) Jefferson quarterback Stephen Garcia made an unofficial visit to two Southeastern Conference schools during the weekend.
The 6-foot-3, 217-pounder went to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to check out Alabama and then to Oxford, Miss., to visit Ole Miss.
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"(The trip) went awesome," Garcia said. "The coaches (at those schools) seemed very interested. The facilities and everything were real nice. Most of the facilities were brand new."
While at Bama, he got the chance to talk about the Crimson Tide's offensive strategy.
"We went into the coaching room and talked to (Alabama offensive coordinator) Dave Rader and went over some things," Garcia said. "Then (Alabama head coach) Mike Shula came in and talked with us.
"He told me they ran a pro-style offense."
Garcia then traveled to Oxford, Miss., to check out the Rebels.
"We went over some football with (new Ole Miss offensive coordinator) Dan Werner, but we spent most of our time with (Rebels head coach) Ed Orgeron.
"Coach O is real intense and I like that about him."
Garcia has two more unofficial visits scheduled.
"I'm going to visit Louisville next," he said. "My great uncle lives up there, so we are going up there and staying with him. Then, I am going to Ohio State."
The recent unofficial visits helped Ole Miss and the Crimson Tide become serious players for Garcia's services.
"This jumps them into the top five definitely," Garcia said. "All of the schools are pretty high on my list."
Florida, South Carolina, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame and Auburn all are among the other schools Garcia is considering.
Garcia does not have a timetable for a decision, but it's possible that he could graduate early and enroll at the school of his choice in January of 2007.
One of the top quarterbacks in Florida and one of the top overall prospects in the Tampa area for the class of 2007, Garcia passed for more than 2,800 yards and 28 touchdowns and rushed for another 700 and eight his junior season.