Khari Garcia
Photo by: Andrew Pedersen
Khari Garcia Poised for Strong Senior Season
8/7/2017 5:38:00 PM | Football
Priorities in order, MSU's top nickel back brings physicality to secondary
One year has made quite a difference for Montana State safety Khari Garcia.
"He's brought a higher level of discipline to the off-season," Bobcat head coach Jeff Choate said of Garcia, who enters 2017 in competition for starting honors at safety. The senior from Pomona, California, is widely praised for his toughness who Choate says is playing his best football.
A year ago, after the birth of his daughter, Garcia was pulled in many different directions. "A lot of it was just getting my priorities straight," he said, beaming at the mention of his one-year old. "I had to balance the different things in my life after having my daughter."
Garcia started during each of his first three seasons, but injuries have plagued him. Late last season redshirt freshman Brayden Konkol slipped into the starting lineup, and now Garcia, Konkol and Bryson McCabe, the second-year starter at free safety, are rotating through the safety positions. Garcia has grabbed the lead role as nickel back. Bobcat safeties coach Kyle Risinger says Garcia brings an element of "physical play at the nickel that we missed last year. He has great coverage skills but you can put him down in the box and he really helps against the run game."
Physical ability has always flashed for Garcia, but junior cornerback Braelen Evans says his secondary-mate's mental approach is now on point. "I feel like he's more focused now," Evans said. "He's more of a leader. We've been around each other for a long time, and we've been on each other, pushing each other to get better. He's a really good leader."
Garcia admits his daughter's presence has forced him to grow up, and Choate said the difference is noticeable in all facets. "He's matured a lot in the last year, and he's compartmentalized the different things in his life. He's become very effective at handling the different parts of his life."
The improvements haven't been restricted to the mental and emotional side of the equation. Garcia's physical gains are impressive. "He's put weight on," Choate says, "and he's faster and stronger. He's also more familiar with what we're doing after a year in the system, so he's playing faster."
A commitment to strength and conditioning has benefited Garcia. "I'm trying to bounce back," he said. My shoulder feels a lot better. I have to keep my legs fresh, that's key in fall camp. I just hustly hard for my team. Attitude and effort is all you can control, so like Coach Choate says, bring all you can every day."
Acknowledging that he didn't put in all the work he could have earlier in his career, Garcia is focused on finishing strong. "I'm in a better position to put in extra work now," he said. "A lot of that is because of my life outside of football."
"He's brought a higher level of discipline to the off-season," Bobcat head coach Jeff Choate said of Garcia, who enters 2017 in competition for starting honors at safety. The senior from Pomona, California, is widely praised for his toughness who Choate says is playing his best football.
A year ago, after the birth of his daughter, Garcia was pulled in many different directions. "A lot of it was just getting my priorities straight," he said, beaming at the mention of his one-year old. "I had to balance the different things in my life after having my daughter."
Garcia started during each of his first three seasons, but injuries have plagued him. Late last season redshirt freshman Brayden Konkol slipped into the starting lineup, and now Garcia, Konkol and Bryson McCabe, the second-year starter at free safety, are rotating through the safety positions. Garcia has grabbed the lead role as nickel back. Bobcat safeties coach Kyle Risinger says Garcia brings an element of "physical play at the nickel that we missed last year. He has great coverage skills but you can put him down in the box and he really helps against the run game."
Physical ability has always flashed for Garcia, but junior cornerback Braelen Evans says his secondary-mate's mental approach is now on point. "I feel like he's more focused now," Evans said. "He's more of a leader. We've been around each other for a long time, and we've been on each other, pushing each other to get better. He's a really good leader."
Garcia admits his daughter's presence has forced him to grow up, and Choate said the difference is noticeable in all facets. "He's matured a lot in the last year, and he's compartmentalized the different things in his life. He's become very effective at handling the different parts of his life."
The improvements haven't been restricted to the mental and emotional side of the equation. Garcia's physical gains are impressive. "He's put weight on," Choate says, "and he's faster and stronger. He's also more familiar with what we're doing after a year in the system, so he's playing faster."
A commitment to strength and conditioning has benefited Garcia. "I'm trying to bounce back," he said. My shoulder feels a lot better. I have to keep my legs fresh, that's key in fall camp. I just hustly hard for my team. Attitude and effort is all you can control, so like Coach Choate says, bring all you can every day."
Acknowledging that he didn't put in all the work he could have earlier in his career, Garcia is focused on finishing strong. "I'm in a better position to put in extra work now," he said. "A lot of that is because of my life outside of football."
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