Report: USC-bound quarterback Jake Garcia transfers to No. 6 Grayson after being ruled ineligible at Valdosta

By Mitch Stephens Oct 21, 2020, 1:20pm

No. 4 pro-style QB in Class of 2021 will attend fifth high school, play for fourth beginning Oct. 30 on ESPN2.

The high school football journey of Jake Garcia isn't quite done. The California transfer and No. 4 pro-style quarterback in the Class of 2021 has left Valdosta (Ga.) and is enrolling at Grayson (Loganville, Ga.), according to multiple media reports.

Valdosta coach Rush Propst on Tuesday confirmed to media outlets that Garcia was no longer at the school. Meanwhile, Randy Garcia, Jake's father, confirmed to ESPN on Wednesday that his son was enrolling at Grayson.

Grayson becomes the fifth high school in Garcia's prep career. He's expected to practice and play for the Rams, ranked No. 6 in the MaxPreps Top 25, when they take on Parkview on Oct. 30 in a nationally-televised game on ESPN2.

Garcia has played previously at Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) and Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.) before transferring to La Habra (Calif.) for what would've been his senior season. However, the California Interscholastic Federation pushed football to 2021 due to COVID-19 prompting Garcia and his father to move to Georgia and play for the Wildcats before enrolling early at USC in December.



Garcia played in one contest for Valdosta, throwing for 240 yards and two scores as the Wildcats earned a season-opening 28-25 win over Warner Robins. Held out of the next two Valdosta games for what was termed a hamstring injury, Garcia was ruled ineligible by the Georgia High School Association following a two-week investigation and after an ESPN article revealed details of the family's move to Georgia. Randy Garcia told ESPN in September he had split with his wife to legitimize the move under Georgia rules.

The GHSA on Tuesday upheld an appeal on its ruling, meaning Valdosta must forfeit its win over Warner Robins.

Garcia now joins a Grayson team (6-0) coming off a 42-7 win over South Gwinnett in which junior quarterback De'Yon Cannon threw two touchdowns. Cannon, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound junior, has completed 54-of-97 passes for 683 yards and seven touchdowns against four interceptions in 2020.
Jake Garcia, seen playing at Narbonne, has transferred to Grayson, according to media reports, after being ruled ineligible at Valdosta.
Jake Garcia, seen playing at Narbonne, has transferred to Grayson, according to media reports, after being ruled ineligible at Valdosta.
File photo by Steven Silva