USC-bound quarterback Jake Garcia, legendary coach Rush Propst start anew at Valdosta on Friday

There's lightning and humidity that Southern California native Jake Garcia has adjusted to living in Georgia. Also, In-N-Out Burger was replaced by the Waffle House. And there's that language shift, too. 

"Kids talk a little different than I'm used to," Garcia said. "Like everyone says 'fixins,' around here and I'm like 'what the heck are 'fixins?' I learned right away that just means side orders."

Even though the lifestyle is slower-paced in the 229, the learning curve for the bright, upbeat USC-bound quarterback has been fast and furious since his Aug. 5 announcement of his transfer from La Habra (Calif.) to Georgia power Valdosta, which opens its season Friday at home against Warner Robins (Ga.). 

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior felt he needed another high school season to prepare for college. Garcia plans to enroll early at USC and with California postponing its 2020 football campaign to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, he and his father Randy made the bold, calculated and adventurous move to The Peach State. Valdosta, located 15 miles from the Florida border in between Tallahassee and Jacksonville, has more wins than any program in America and last spring hired legendary coach Rush Propst, winner of more than 300 high school games.

In less than a month, Garcia has taken on a new state, new coach, spread offense, weather pattern, social structure, language gap and food stop. But three days before his first game out of California, all is going as planned.

"It's been a great transition," he said Tuesday. "My teammates accepted me and have been super welcoming. I feel at home, and I feel like we're on our way to a state championship run. ... It's definitely a different atmosphere here. You feel that Southern hospitality. It's fast living in LA. Down here it's a slower pace, but it's a great place for family and to win some football games."

He hit the mother lode at Valdosta, which has won 928 games, claimed 24 state and six mythical national crowns since its 1913 beginnings. Propst, the former reality TV star on MTV's popular "Two-A-Days," was previously at Hoover (Ala.) and Colquitt County (Norman Park, Ga.) and won a combined seven state championships, while going 313-92 over a 30-year career.

Propst is high energy and definitely hasn't taken it easy on Garcia, who admitted to struggles at first. He said he's since found his rhythm.

This week, Garcia was named to a watchlist with 21 other high school players for The Touchdown Club of Atlanta's Mr. Georgia Award. One other quarterback, Georgia-bound five-star Brock Vandagriff, of Prince Avenue Christian (Athens) was on the list.

"Coach Propst definitely has a plan and I love it," he said. "The organization and schedule we have, the time commitment and focus required here is great. There's a lot of little things and details we pay attention to. We hold each other accountable. It's the most college-oriented program I've definitely been in."

Which is just why Garcia transferred in the first place, he said. He needed more reps and wants to hit the ground running at USC.

"I think senior year is really important time to learn and get better," he said. 

Garcia was raised to be a quarterback. His dad played the position at Wilson (Los Angeles), the University of Nebraska and in semipro police athletic leagues until he was 40.

Jake Garcia began his prep career at Long Beach Poly (Calif.), transferred to Narbonne (Harbor City, Calif.), where he led his team to 19 wins over two seasons on the field. All but two and a league title were forfeited last winter due to using ineligible players, which led to the reassignment of its head coach and Garcia's transfer to La Habra.  

When the California Interscholastic Federation officially pushed all fall sports to 2021, Garcia looked for a place he could refine his football skills. He had family in the Atlanta area and decided Valdosta was the perfect fit.

So far, so good.

"I definitely wanted to start with a winning program and a winning coach and you can't get any better than here," Garcia said.

Garcia should help with all that success. According to 247Sports national recruiting analyst Greg Biggins, Garcia rates a 9 out of 10 in arm strength and 8 in accuracy, delivery and intangibles. He projects him as an "impact upper tier Power 5 starter and future NFL draft pick." Biggins compares him to Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

"He has a loose, athletic frame with a pure stroke and effortless delivery," Biggins wrote. He throws with touch and accuracy, can change speeds and has a nice feel for the position. He has improved athletically and looks comfortable rolling out and throwing on the run."

Garcia shouldn't be doing much moving in Probst's spread attack, which requires getting the ball out quickly. There's a lot to learn in the system, but like The Waffle House, Garcia enjoys all the fixins.

"We definitely spread things out and get the ball into the playmakers' hands," Garcia said. "All our running backs and receivers are involved. There's a lot of reads and line checks I have to make. I'm super excited to run it because it puts a lot on my plate."