COLUMBIA, Mo. — The quarterback room at the Mizzou is a little busier. The Tigers on Friday landed a signing of former Miami Hurricanes QB Jake Garcia, a former four-star prospect who appeared in eight games last season.
“I am very grateful for my time in Miami and the support of the Canes family,” Garcia posted on social media. “I wish Cane Nation the best and look forward to supporting them from afar. With that in mind, I am so grateful for the opportunity to become a Mizzou Tiger and look forward to starting this journey!”
I am very grateful for my time in Miami and the support of the Canes family. I wish Cane Nation all the best and look forward to the support from afar.
With that in mind, I am so grateful for the opportunity to become a Mizzou Tiger and excited to start this journey! pic.twitter.com/Krtkqp7KKh
— Jake Garcia (@JakeGarcia14) January 20, 2023
Garcia, a top-50 international in the 2021 draft class, appeared in eight games at Miami last season, throwing for 803 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. He entered the NCAA transfer portal on Tuesday. Garcia started in one game in 2022, throwing for 125 yards in a 14-12 win over Virginia. He also saw extended playing time in losses to Middle Tennessee State, Duke and Pittsburgh during coach Mario Cristobal’s mostly disastrous debut season with the Hurricanes. Garcia completed 59.1% of his passes for the season. He ended up minus 75 rushing yards. He appeared in one game in 2021, throwing for 147 yards and two TDs against Central Connecticut State. He still has three years remaining playing eligibility.
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Garcia was unavailable for further comment.
The transfer portal was closed on Wednesday, but schools can still recruit players who previously entered the portal. The portal opens again for a week in May. Players who have already earned their bachelor’s degree can switch at any time.
With Garcia on board, who will be part of the program this semester, he will join returning starter Brady Cook and freshman Sam Horn in the roster, although Cook underwent off-season shoulder surgery and will miss spring training. Newcomer Gabarri Johnson signed with Mizzou in December and will join this team this summer. The Tigers recently picked junior college sophomore Dylan Laible as a walk-on.
Garcia was ranked the nation’s No. 6 pro quarterback in the 2021 recruit class and the No. 47 player overall by Rivals.com. He initially committed to USC before passing on his promise to Miami. A native of Whittier, California, Garcia attended five different high schools, two in California and three in Georgia. After Garcia starred at Narbonne High in Los Angeles in 2018-19, the state of California postponed its high school season during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting Garcia and his father, Randy, to relocate to Georgia, where Garcia enrolled at Valdosta High. There was a catch. In order for Garcia to qualify for Georgia state residency requirements, Randy and his wife Yvonne were legally separated, ESPN reported at the time. Randy Garcia played quarterback at Nebraska from 1975 to 1977. Jake Garcia ended his high school career by leading Grayson High to the 2020 Georgia Class 7A State Championship, accidentally beating Horn’s Collins Hill High team for the title. Horn led Collins Hill to the championship in 2021.
Mizzou Football Coach Eli Drinkwitz and newly hired Offensive Coordinator Kirby Moore discuss what Kirby’s role will be and what he brings to the team on Saturday, January 7, 2023. Video from Mizzou Network, used with permission from Mizzou Athletics.
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