Should we start getting slightly excited about Gaige Garcia (‘20 PWO RB)?

Submitted by Larry Appleton on November 5th, 2019 at 9:48 AM

Yes, he plays in a small-school division in Pennsylvania, I get that.  But in his team’s opening-round playoff win (75-0), Garcia finished with 178 yards and two TDs … ON THREE G**DAMN CARRIES.

Link

The Fugitive

November 5th, 2019 at 10:05 AM ^

Can he play DT? Can he pass block? Can he convert every 4th down special teams fake? Is there too much depth in the QB room? Seems like a transfer portal candidate. 

Too many unanswered questions, need more Intel on the wrestler. 

Joined: 01/26/2016

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Magnus

November 5th, 2019 at 10:07 AM ^

That's a great game, no doubt, but Towanda (the team Garcia's team beat) was 3-8 this year. It's an example of a poor playoff format where a 3-7 team is able to make the playoffs. If you have a losing record, you shouldn't be in the playoffs.

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The Baughz

November 5th, 2019 at 10:17 AM ^

I live /used to coach in western, PA and the playoff format is horrendous. They changed to 6A classification a couple years ago and it really hurt the playoff system.

Teams with 1 or 2 wins now make the playoffs and can also choose to opt out.

Southern Columbia is absolutely loaded and haven’t lost a game in 8 years. The competition level is pretty weak, but Garcia is really good. I would really be excited if he ends up coming to UM as a PWO.

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BlueMan80

November 5th, 2019 at 10:11 AM ^

I read the story at the link.  You have to wonder if the other team had to wear 20 pound ankle weights for some reason or maybe they were playing with blindfolds on.  Provided that wasn't the case, I'd say things are looking up for that young man.

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kurpit

November 5th, 2019 at 10:12 AM ^

75-0? Opposing team had one first down? You can probably glean as much meaningful info about a prospect from this game as you can from when Michigan plays Rutgers.

Joined: 02/25/2009

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mgoblue0409

November 5th, 2019 at 10:23 AM ^

I know someone who teaches at Southern Columbia, the school Gaige attends. Gaige is a beast, possibly a better wrestler. Southern Columbia is one of the top teams in the entire state of Pennsylvania, and it is the same school top-5 recruit Julian Fleming (Ohio St. commit) attends. Gaige is a standout on that team, but he may end up focusing on wrestling even though Harbaugh told him he could do both. Will be interesting to see how he develops if/when he gets to Ann Arbor. 

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Red is Blue

November 5th, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^

I get how wrestling skills could help in football, but unless you're a heavy weight wrestler/lineman then, wrestling and football don't seem compatible to me.  Seems like wrestlers wouldn't want any bulk (pure strength) whereas for a running back in football, bulk is beneficial up to the point where it negatively impacts speeds.

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mgoblue0409

November 5th, 2019 at 10:45 AM ^

That’s why I’m skeptical. From what I understand he loves wrestling, and Harbaugh has told him he can do both at Michigan. However, he will need to gain weight to play football while he will be asked to lose/maintain weight for wrestling. Should be interesting to see what he ultimately decides to do. 

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IDKaGoodName

November 5th, 2019 at 11:13 AM ^

Currently listed by 247 as 5’10” 205 pounds. Depending on the accuracy of that weight, and what time of the year it was, he may be coming in to wrestle 197 or HWT. Manipulating his body wouldn’t be too awful at those weights, and if he backs up at HWT he will have plenty of freedom with his weight and body. It’s much more tortuous and difficult to find a good weight for multiple sports when you linger more in the LS weight classes; 125-157 or so

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Losher

November 5th, 2019 at 10:50 AM ^

He is teammates with Julian Fleming, the top wide receiver in the class. Although they dont play in the “biggest division” in Pa that is mostly because of weird PIAA rules. Southern Columbia is one of those schools that has a ton of good players every year and will usually have a bunch of seniors who go on to play local D2 football each and every year. 

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Mr Miggle

November 5th, 2019 at 11:20 AM ^

He's right though. We're used to PWOs. They play or don't, get chances to earn a scholarship if they are valuable enough.

Garcia's status as a scholarship athlete in another sport is different. One snap in a game and he's on a four year football scholarship. The coaches will need to make an early decision. There's a lot of overlap with the wrestling season.

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Booted Blue in PA

November 5th, 2019 at 11:07 AM ^

Anymore, getting slightly excited needs to be reserved for something better than running up the score on a pop warner level opponent.

if i'm only getting excited once a day, I need to be judicious about it.

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Steve in PA

November 5th, 2019 at 11:21 AM ^

Not yet.

Southern is a small school power.  They are local to me and I have many family members that played on their teams.

They are so dominant that Southern and schools on their schedule will try to adjust to find more closely matched competition.  This year one local school cancelled their game with them and Southern tried to schedule up in division.  The PIAA brought the hammer down for that one.

 

Southern won't be tested until the state finals or semi-finals.  The coach has done a great job of building a program from the peewee divisions on up.  Kids are ready to go the minute the step on the field whether it is Varsity, JV, or Jr High.

 

Not taking away from Garcia, just tempering expectations.

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