Another Maryland refugee has found his next college football home.
6'4", 290-pound offensive tackle Max Garcia announced Saturday that he would be transferring to Florida after joining the exodus out of College Park earlier this season. The Norcross, Ga. native started all 12 games at left tackle for the Terps in 2011 and was widely considered the second-most coveted Maryland transfer after quarterback Danny O'Brien, who announced he was leaving Maryland the same day as Garcia. Unlike O'Brien, however, the rising junior will have to sit out 2012 under the NCAA's transfer rule and will have two years of remaining eligibility in 2013.
Garcia had also visited Ole Miss, Clemson, Georgia and USC before settling on the Gators. Florida made the transfer official with a statement released Monday morning.
"We are excited to have Max be a part of our 2012 signing class and our offensive line unit,” said Gator head coach Will Muschamp.
Garcia had already made his own announcement Saturday, though, via Twitter:
Once a Terp always a Terp, but it is a great day to be a Florida Gator !!#GatorNation
— Max Garcia (@Macweez73) April 21, 2012
Garcia's addition should be a big one for Muschamp and the Gators. The graduation of Xavier Nixon will likely open up a starting tackle position, and though Garcia will have to battle up-and-comers like Chaz Green and Matt Patchan for it, his presence will give Muschamp more options there, more flexibility across the line, and the potential for getting even more in-game experience on the field come the fall of 2013.
It's not quite borrowing a possible all-conference quarterback who can play immediately, as in the case of O'Brien and Wisconsin. But we doubt anyone in Gainesville is looking a gift horse like this one in the mouth.
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