Rookie guard/center Max Garcia was promoted to first team reps Thursday, showing that he’s ready to make the jump from the SEC to the NFL. Despite the quick advancement up the depth chart, he’s staying humble. He knows that a few reps on the first team during camp doesn’t mean a starting job is his. Garcia met with the media following practice and spoke about getting his first crack at first-team reps.
Here are some of the highlights…
Max Garcia: “I just knew that I was going to come in here and work hard. I was going to come in here focused and try to be as prepared as possible, with getting in the playbook and just being confident in what I’m doing, so I can play fast when I hit the field. I feel like that it’s transitioning well for me and I’m where I want to be, but I’m always working to get (on the first team).”
Garcia: “It’s a mental grind and a physical grind. You have to be able to focus on one thing and make sure that you come out here and just play as confidently as possible because if you’re confused on what you’re trying to do, you’ll just exert that much more energy just not being certain. I just try to come out here as prepared as possible and try to make plays.”
Garcia: “We’ve been working with each other for quite a bit, so it’s good to be with (Ty Sambrailo). We’re two young guys, so we have to communicate with each other. I feel like we just have to work on that. We did okay today. (I’m) definitely looking forward to working with him tomorrow.”
Garcia: “If we’re the best five that are up there, then so be it. We’re going to come out here; we’re going to compete, just like we’ve been doing. I think today coaches just wanted to see what we could do just running with the ones. We’ll go back to the film and see how we did. If we didn’t do too well, we’ll hit the field tomorrow and get some redemption and go on from there.”
