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Isaac Garcia, a four-star tight end/defensive end from Bellevue High School, has verbally committed to USC, he announced on Twitter Monday night.
I am blessed to announce that I have verbally committed to the University of Southern California #FightOn ✌️ pic.twitter.com/s7U6ZX4HQI
— isaac garcia (@swish_nation) September 30, 2014
As it has done recently with Max Browne and Zach Banner, USC went into Washington's back yard to swipe one of the top prospects from the Apple State. The 6'4" Garcia is a much-needed commitment for the Trojans since they have limited numbers at tight end and haven't been able to pull the top recruits at the position this year.
Bellevue (Wash.) tight end Isaac Garcia is a big pickup for the #Trojans at a position they have struggled with in this recruiting cycle.
— Blair Angulo (@bangulo) September 30, 2014
Of course, that's only if Isaac Garcia ends up at tight end. Of the four major scouting sites, only Scout has him listed at tight end. It rates him the No. 10 tight end recruit and No. 199 overall. The other three sites have him listed as a defensive end.
The opinions of Garcia as a defensive end among the sites vary. ESPN and Rivals both have him as the No. 12 defensive end while 247sports thinks much higher of him, rating him as the No. 2 weak-side defensive end. While Garcia is listed No. 177 by ESPN and No. 235 by Rivals, 247sports puts him as its No. 28 overall recruit and grades him at a 96 out of 100 while ESPN's out of 100 Scout Grade is an 81.
Where Garcia, who is listed between 205-225 pounds, winds up likely won't be known until closer to his actual signing next year.
#USC is Isaac Garcia's dream school having grown up in Fontana (Calif.). He says USC is leaving his future position open ended.
— Gerard Martinez (@gmartlive) September 30, 2014
Hey, it never hurts when you are a highly touted player's "dream school." Here's what Garcia told Scout's Gerard Martinez:
"USC has been my dream since I was younger, and ever since I got the offer I started thinking about committing," said Garcia. "I was talking to my grandpa this weekend, who still lives in California, and he was saying why wait.
"Going to USC was my dream, so why wait on committing and accomplishing my dream? I took that to heart and that’s when I decided to call the coaches. I feel like that’s the right decision for me in my family."
Isaac Garcia also chose USC for a particular reason, which he also explained to Martinez:
"Academics played a big part, and academically, USC is unbelievable," said Garcia. "I want to be a forensics science major, and USC has really good programs for that major. How can you pass that up?
"And that’s where I’m from, so I felt really at home there. In Washington, we don’t get that much sun, so that warm weather just reminds me of home even though I live in Washington now."
Even though he is a 16-year-old kid, Isaac Garcia seems to have his head on straight. He mentioned that while he thinks USC is "probably where I'll end up -- for sure," he also knows the Class of 2016 National Signing Day is a long way aways.
Garcia currently has a scholarship offer from Washington State, but has received interest from other Pac-12 schools, including Cal and Washington.
Check out Isaac Garcia's highlights below and let us know what you think of the Trojans' latest recruiting score. While most are from the defensive side of the ball, you have to love that catch in traffic around the 1:00 mark: