Former South Carolina defender Stephen Garcia played for Gamecocks when Shane Beamer was Steve Spurriertechnical team of. A decade later, he is excited about the program’s prospects, with Beamer now in charge.
Back in Columbia over the weekend for a quarterback camp, he ran with his fellow Gamecocks quarterback Perry OrthGarcia shared his thoughts on his new alma mater football coach.
“You can feel the urgency he has and the passion for being at Columbia and his passion for Gamecock football,” Garcia said in an interview with Mike Uva of WACH FOX. “We had that feeling when we were playing for him. I am looking forward to it and excited about the direction we are going. We just have to go out and do it, take advantage of the recruitment and go from there. I had the opportunity to speak to Coach Beamer and some former teammates as Melvin Ingram, Yvan Banag, Akeem Auguste and Gerrod Sinclair. We are excited about the future. We have to be aggressive. “
Beamer responded to Garcia’s thoughts on Twitter by typing “Thanks @StephenGarcia !! Great to see you and you’re right … let’s be aggressive in everything we do !! “
Garcia is one of several ex-Gamecocks to visit the program in the past week. Connor Shaw, Byron Jerideau and Shaq Wilson they are members of the program’s external team. Visitors included Alshon and Shamier Jeffery and the quartet that Garcia mentioned.
ALWAYS a great day in South Carolina, when?@MelvinIngram? , Gerrod Sinclair &?@ Keemthedream329? stop to visit !!!
I love being back w?@GamecockFB? and seeing the #GamecockFamily ?? pic.twitter.com/u4v3m27muU
– Shane Beamer (@CoachSBeamer) January 22, 2021
SO MUCH TD passes and tackles in this photo !!!
Legends of?@GamecockFB? !!
Great to have Alshon Jeffery here tonight with us #Family pic.twitter.com/T9IcxlEUlV
– Shane Beamer (@CoachSBeamer) January 19, 2021
In four seasons in South Carolina (2008-10), Garcia passed 7,597 yards and 47 passing touchdowns and 41 interceptions. He completed 57.7 percent of his passes (589 to 1021). A potential client of the 2007 Tampa, Florida (Jefferson) class, Garcia was the potential 56 in this recruitment cycle and the fifth professional quarterback. In South Carolina football history, Garcia ranks third in passing attempts (1,021), fourth in passing completions (589), fifth in passing touchdowns (47), third in quarterback victories (20 ) and the third in passing yards (7,597).