Garcia seeking redemption

The last time Stephen Garcia visited Buccaneers headquarters, he was a hot-shot quarterback at Jefferson High, headed for a big-time college football program.

Times, and circumstances, have changed.

Garcia returned to One Buc Place on Saturday to participate in an NFL regional combine, hoping to resurrect his pro dreams after a tumultuous college career under coach Steve Spurrier at South Carolina.

"All I want, all I need, is a chance," Garcia said before working out under the watchful eyes of former Tampa Bay Storm quarterback John Kaleo. "I haven't been on this field since high school (2006), when Chris Simms was the Bucs quarterback."

Garcia, who turned 24 on Wednesday, was measured at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds Saturday before joining more than 100 other NFL hopefuls for speed tests and agility drills.

After staging a series of workouts at several remote locations, the NFL invites the most promising participants to a super regional combine March 30-31 in Detroit.

After throwing for 8,081 yards and 83 touchdowns at Jefferson, setting Hillsborough County career records for passing yards, completions and touchdowns, Garcia joined the Gamecocks in 2007 as a highly recruited prospect.

Five suspensions later, Garcia was dismissed from the team by Spurrier in October for failing to meet guidelines regarding his behavior.

At the time, Garcia's father, Gary, told The Tampa Tribune his son tested positive for alcohol, violating a substance-abuse policy signed before he was reinstated to the team.

"I wish I wouldn't have done what I did, but looking back, I think I had a pretty good run at it," said Garcia, who started 34 games (20-14) for the Gamecocks. "I hate the way that it ended, but I met a lot of great teammates, and coach Spurrier and I still talk now and then.

"I admit that at times I used bad judgment. At that level, you can't make excuses for your actions and I was very immature.

"Coach Spurrier and I had our run-ins with one another, but he's been supportive. In fact, his wife texted me the other day to wish me happy birthday."

Garcia, who led the Gamecocks to the SEC East title in 2010 as a junior, is eager to showcase his skills to NFL scouts at South Carolina's Pro Day on March 28.

"That'll be big because we'll have someone from all 32 teams there," said Garcia, who wasn't invited to next week's main scouting combine in Indianapolis. "Hopefully, a team takes a chance on me. I'm in my best shape since high school and I'm absolutely driven to make it to the pros. That's been my goal for as long as I can remember."

Garcia hit the field Saturday with the determination to put a checkered past behind him.

"I'm living down here in Tampa with my (4-year-old) son and girlfriend," he said. "There's no more hanging out with the fellas; those days are over. I've always got two sets of eyes watching me at all times now, and that's made a huge difference in my life."