Awards and Honors:
Athletics Director's Honor Roll (S24)
2024: Started the season opener against Louisville (Aug. 31) at quarterback, going 3-of-8 for 19 yards, but an injury against the Cardinals sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
Prior to Austin Peay: Played four seasons at East Carolina (2020-23), appearing in 20 games and making four starts at quarterback. 2023: Played in a career-high eight games and made a career-high three starts in his fourth season at ECU… Opened the season as the starter against No. 2 Michigan (Sept. 2), completing 11 passes for 80 yards and rushing eight times for 36 yards… Made his second-straight start against Marshall (Sept. 9), completing 10 passes for 62 yards and a touchdown while rushing 16 times for a career-best 118 yards… His 118 rushing yards against Marshall marked the first 100-yard rushing performance by a Pirates’ quarterback since 2018… Tallied nine completions for 89 yards against Gardner-Webb (Sept. 23) while also carrying the ball six times for 18 yards and a touchdown… Posted career-highs with 12 completions for 155 yards against Southern Methodist (Oct. 12), also rushed 12 times for 38 yards and a touchdown against the Mustangs… Made his final start of the campaign against Charlotte, throwing for 19 yards on four completions and rushing five times for 12 yards… Completed 48-of-95 passes for 408 yards and a touchdown during the 2023 season, and also rushed 50 times for 268 yards and two touchdowns – he ranked third on the team in rushing yards and second in touchdowns. 2022: Appeared in three games off the bench at quarterback… Completed 5-of-7 passes for 39 yards and rushed twice for 11 yards against Campbell (Sept. 17)… Completed 7-of-12 passes for 54 yards and added 14 rushing yards on five attempts during his third season at ECU. 2021: Played in six games in a reserve role at quarterback… Posted a three-yard rushing touchdown in his season debut against Charleston Southern (Sept. 25)… Completed his lone passing attempt against Tulane (Oct. 2) for a 14-yard touchdown – his first collegiate touchdown pass… Finished the season with two completions for 21 yards and eight rushes for 19 yards. 2020: Appeared in three games and made his first collegiate start against Navy (Oct. 17)… Completed 10-of-20 passes for 104 yards against the Midshipmen while rushing 15 times for 63 yards and a touchdown.
High School: Played quarterback for head coach Marc Morris at Carolina Forrest High School… Threw for 2,149 yards and 19 touchdowns while rushing for 761 yards and 14 touchdowns to lead the Panthers to a 12-2 overall record and a 6-0 mark in region play during his senior season… Guided Carolina Forrest to the Lower State 5A finals for the first time in school history as a senior before falling to Dutch Fork in the championship game… Earned All-Region 6-5A honors as a junior after passing for 2,100 yards and 28 touchdowns while tallying 700 yards on the ground… Helped the Panthers go 8-2 overall and 4-1 in Region 6 during his junior season in 2018 while also leading the program to its first playoff victory since 2004… Took over the reins at quarterback as a sophomore in 2017 and passes for nearly 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding 500 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground… Was invited to play in the Blue-Gray All-American Bowl – a North vs. South All-Star Showcase – at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida at the conclusion of his prep career… Was also selected to represent South Carolina at the 2019 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas… Rated a four-star prospect by 247Sports.com and Rivals… Also played basketball for the Panthers, averaging 7.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game during his prep career.
Personal: Mason Garcia is the son of Ismael and Teresa Garcia… Birthday is Dec. 4… Has two siblings, Marisa and Ismael… A general studies major with a survey of humanities concentration.
