16 Mark Garcia

Mark Garcia Ohio State
Nationality
usaUnited States
Position
QB
Height
6'4"
Weight
215
Birthday
5/7/1976
Hometown
Modesto, CA
High School
Grace Davis
Current Team
Ohio State
Seasons
1996, 1997, 1998

Major: Sport & Leisure Studies (1997-98), Exercise Science (1996)

Weight: 215 (1996-98)

1998 Media Guide: Talented signal caller who has patiently awaited the opportunity to show what he can do … enters the season as the backup to Joe Germaine … has a big-time arm and is a smooth, graceful athlete, capable of making the big play … was the third quarterback last year, seeing brief action in seven games … has rarely had the benefit of playing behind the first line or throwing to the first-string receivers … has spent countless hours studying film in his first two seasons and has a thorough understanding of the OSU passing game … quarterbacks coach Tim Salem says “we are lucky to have a guy with his talents … it is unfortunate he hasn’t had much of a chance to play, but we believe in his abilities … he can throw to any part of the field.

1997: Played in seven games and completed 9-of-23 passes for 175 yards … was 2-for-2 for 73 yards against Northwestern and threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Ken-Yon Rambo (one of five TD passes on the day for OSU) … suffered his lone interception at Michigan State the following week in the rain.

1997 Media Guide: The unknown factor in the quarterback equation … will battle incumbents Joe Germaine and Stanley Jackson for playing time and a possible starting role this fall … transferred to Ohio State in the winter of 1996 and took part in spring practice … was making a run at the starting job last fall but blew out his left knee in practice and had season-ending surgery on Aug. 22 …has a lot of ground to make up and some cobwebs to shake off, but has a big-time arm and is a gifted all-around athlete … spent countless hours studying film last year and has a thorough understanding of the OSU passing game … makes an already competitive situation even more so.

1996 Media Guide: Transferred to Ohio State from Modesto Junior College at the beginning of last winter quarter … took part in spring drills and heads into the fall as one of the candidates vying to replace departed starter Bobby Hoying … fine all-around athlete with a big-time arm and the ability to go deep … has a smooth delivery and throws an easy-to-catch ball … prefers to stay in the pocket, but is a strong, productive runner when forced to scramble … has a lot to learn in terms of running Ohio State’s sophisticated offense, but is a hard worker and quick learner … coming off a sensational season at Modesto, throwing for 31 touchdowns and 3,258 yards last year and leading his team to a 10-1 record … set school records for touchdowns, passing yardage, completions (182) and total offense (3,346) … top passing game was 470 yards und five TDs against West Hill Junior College … the top-ranked junior college quarterback in the country last year with a passing efficiency rating of 195.6 … completed 63 percent of his passes during his two years at Modesto … also averaged 39 yards as a punter and hit on five of eight field goal attempts, including a 42 yarder.

High School: Attended Grace Davis High School … played four years of football and threw for 40 touchdowns … also played two years of baseball.

Other: Came to Ohio State for the opportunity to compete in the Big Ten and play in the Rose Bowl … hobbies are golf, snow skiing and weight lilting.

Offense

SeasonTeamGGSCompPass AttPass YdsPass TDPass IntSkdSkd YdsRush AttRush YdsRush TD
1997Ohio State7092317511NANA4-230
1998Ohio State90122618910NANA6-130
Total-1602149364210010-360