Garcia says he's talked with Falcons, other teams

Stephen Garcia has talked with several NFL teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, as he works for a future in the NFL, he told Scout.com this week.

Garcia played in the AstroTurf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in Carson, Calif., on Jan. 21. He is expected to be part of South Carolina's Pro Day on March 28.

Garcia was dismissed from the Gamecocks midway through last season after failing a substance test. He started 34 games and threw for 7,597 yards at South Carolina, third most in school history, but his career was never a smooth one.

Garcia, who received a bachelor's degree in sociology last year, spent five seasons in Columbia. He has said he understands why the public might have a bad perception of him, but he hopes a NFL team will take a chance and see that he has the skills to make the pros.

Among other things, Garcia told Scout that he wants to “prove he’s not an alcoholic”.

Read the full story here on Scout.com

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Mary Ann Chastain - Special to The State