Aaron Garcia

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Aaron Garcia
Date of birth: October 20, 1970 (1970-10-20) (age 37)
Place of birth: Flag of the United States Sacramento, California
Career information
Position(s): Quarterback
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 195 lb (88 kg)
Jersey №: 8
College: Sacramento State
Organizations
 As player:
1995
1996
1997-1998
1998-present		 Arizona Rattlers
Connecticut Coyotes
New Jersey Red Dogs
Iowa Barnstormers/New York Dragons
Career highlights and Awards
Awards: 2001 AFL Offensive P.O.Y.

Aaron Garcia (born October 20, 1970 in Sacramento, California) is a quarterback in the Arena Football League currently signed to the New York Dragons.

Contents

[edit] High school career

Garcia is a native of Sacramento, California, and he played high school football with his father as coach at Grant Union High School in Sacramento, California, where he shattered John Elway’s California state high school passing, yardage and touchdown records with a two-year prep total of 5,800 yards and 57 touchdown passes.

[edit] College career

He went to Washington State University in 1989, and started as a redshirt freshman, contributing 1,591 yards and 11 TD passes, leading the Pac-10 in passing efficiency that year. During that year, quarterbacking duties also were shared by junior Brad Gossen, who threw for 1,372 yards and nine TDs in an injury shortened season, prior to Garcia being named the starter. In 1990, a mid-season quarterback controversy erupted when second-year coach Mike Price benched veterans Brad Gossen and Aaron Garcia in favor of true-freshman (and eventual NFL star) Drew Bledsoe.

After Drew Bledsoe's emergence at Washington State in 1990, Garcia transferred to Division I-AA Sacramento State and finished his college football career as the starter there, throwing for 1,798 yards and 13 touchdowns in his senior season.

[edit] Professional career

Following his college career, he turned to Arena Football. He played for the Arizona Rattlers in 1995, and then moved on to the Connecticut Coyotes in 1996. He'd change teams again in 1997, playing for the New Jersey Red Dogs. He played for the Red Dogs for a year and a half before joining the Iowa Barnstormers during the 1998 season. Garcia finally settled down in Iowa, and found his greatest success when the Barnstormers became the New York Dragons in 2001. In the 2001 season, Garcia threw a league record 104 touchdown passes, but this was passed by Clint Dolezel in 2006.

Garcia briefly left the AFL in 2002, when he was signed by the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. He was released in the summer, and returned to the Dragons, who finished 3-11 that year.

On February 26, 2006, Garcia suffered a fractured tibia and fibula, ending his season. He was replaced by Juston Wood and later Nick Browder. At the time of the injury, Garcia had thrown more touchdown passes than any pro quarterback, but Andy Kelly and Clint Dolezel moved ahead of him while he was sidelined.

On June 2, 2007, he became the fourth quarterback in AFL history to throw 800 touchdowns, joining Clint Dolezel, Sherdrick Bonner, and Andy Kelly.

[edit] Career Stats

Year Team Comp ATT % YDS TD INT QB Rat.
1995 Arizona Rattlers 175 284 61.62 2,416 43 8 114.99
1996 Connecticut Coyotes 136 271 50.18 1,779 31 4 93.70
1997 New Jersey Red Dogs 76 138 55.07 950 16 7 84.51
1998 New Jersey Red Dogs 91 140 65.00 1,158 18 5 107.98
1998 Iowa Barnstormers 200 343 58.31 2,457 43 9 100.93
1999 Iowa Barnstormers 283 468 60.47 3,815 68 15 109.41
2000 Iowa Barnstormers 270 466 57.94 4,026 92 8 118.79
2001 New York Dragons 368 529 69.57 4,515 104 16 122.60
2002 New York Dragons 112 188 59.57 1,390 29 9 101.15
2003 New York Dragons 329 513 64.13 4,279 100 10 121.74
2004 New York Dragons 279 459 60.78 3,797 91 13 114.99
2005 New York Dragons 345 516 66.86 4,112 90 13 120.09
2006 New York Dragons 121 157 77.07 1,417 32 4 132.88
2007 New York Dragons 149 227 65.6 1,724 46 4 120.67
Career 2,934 4,699 62.4 37,835 803 125 116.16

[edit] External links