Linebacker Cristian Garcia points to his family during Saturday's commencement ceremony at Exactech Arena.
Walk-on Garcia Walks to Degree
Saturday, August 5, 2017 | Football, Chris Harry
Linebacker Cristian Garcia attended commencement Saturday with his Class of '17 with the blessing of UF coach Jim McElwain.
Across the commencement stage to a degree in Sport Management.
Garcia, the fifth-year senior and walk-on from Miami, was one of 34 UF student-athletes who completed work toward their degrees this summer and one of a handful who participated in graduation ceremonies at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Gators coach Jim McElwain excused Garcia, who is in contention for a spot on the two-deep depth chart, from training camp to take the memorable walk in front his mother, brother, grandparents and girlfriend.
"It's a great thing that Coach Mac does, to have the day to celebrate the achievement with your family," Garcia said. "It's just a really exciting time for me."
That's saying something, given the "time" Garcia had as a Gator last year.
In the summer, he garnered national attention when the Gainesville Police Department recognized him for preventing a sexual assault in the early morning hours behind a midtown bar. For his heroics, Garcia appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" and was invited to the home of Vice President Joe Biden, who honored Garcia as one of the Obama administration's "It's On Us" Courage Awards.
Then came the 2016 football season. Garcia played in all 13 games, mostly on special teams, and was pressed into front-line duty late in the season due to injuries to stars Jarrad Davis and Alex Anzalone. Garcia started against Iowa in the Outback Bowl at Tampa and recorded a career-high five tackles. The Gators crushed the Hawkeyes, 30-3.
There were also those Southeastern Conference Academic honors.
"If you told me the things that would occur, I never would have imagined them," Garcia said. "But at the same time, I've always set high goals for myself and tried to maintain a high standard."
That next goal: Do enough in the preseason to earn a scholarship.
Don't count him out.
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