BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — In many ways, offensive lineman Max Garcia can be considered an exception to the rule.
After he transferred to UF from the University of Maryland in 2012, he faced an uphill battle.
"I just thought I needed a fresh start, to my whole life pretty much," Garcia said. "I was willing to do whatever it took to make it happen and to live it out on a more positive note."
He needed to learn a brand new system, work with a new coach and build relationships with a whole new group of players.
Transfers do not always find success.
But that wasn’t the case for Garcia.
"My time at Florida has just been all positive," Garcia said. "It just made me a better person, a better athlete, a better student, just overall a better person."
During his three years at Florida, Garcia learned to play every position along the offensive line.
He started playing left tackle on the scout team during the 2012 season, which he had to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules.
But as the season began to wind down, then-UF offensive line coach Tim Davis proposed that Garcia shift inside to play guard.
The Norcross, Georgia, native started seven games at left guard in the 2013 season before injuries began to plague the offensive line, forcing Garcia to move back outside and play left tackle for five games.
And after Jonotthan Harrison finished his career at Florida and the Gators were in desperate need of a center, then-head coach Will Muschamp knew where to turn.
"I kind of laughed at that," Garcia said.
"I just never thought I’d play center my senior year. It ended up being a good decision."
D.J. Durkin, Florida’s interim head coach, admired Garcia’s work ethic throughout his three years in Gainesville.
"He’s been a great leader for us, and a great guy that leads by example," Durkin said. "Anytime you have a guy that performs that consistently in practice and game in and game out, it’s a great guy to point to for the rest of your team and say that’s what we’re looking for."
Garcia’s time at Florida may be over, but his career is just getting started.
Garcia tweeted after Florida’s 28-20 Birmingham Bowl victory on Saturday that he received an invitation to participate in the Senior Bowl.
"I just, really, just understand how valuable and how crazy it is to get a second chance," Garcia said. "All the people around me have just supported me and just gave me the opportunity to be successful. That’s something that I’m going to take with me."
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Max Garcia snaps the ball during Florida's 28-20 win against East Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl on Saturday at Legion Field.
