Antonio Garcia Selected by Patriots in Third Round of NFL Draft

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TROY, Alabama – Offensive tackle Antonio Garcia became the seventh-highest NFL Draft pick in Troy history and the highest offensive lineman ever selected in the Sun Belt Conference as he was tabbed by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft with the 85^th overall pick Friday night at Philadelphia City Hall.

"I'm extremely proud of the man and player that Antonio has become," Troy head coach Neal Brown said. "He came to Troy at 250 pounds and has truly developed into one of the premier offensive lineman in the country. Antonio was blessed with great natural talent and he transformed himself into an NFL player with his work ethic and desire to get better each day at practice. In addition to his hard work on the football field, Antonio also worked hard in the classroom and finished his degree last summer."

A first team All-Sun Belt selection, Garcia did not allow a sack in over 900 offensive snaps on an offensive line that led the country with just nine sacks allowed as a unit. Troy finished this past season 10-3 and its six-win improvement from 2015 ranked as the best in school history and tied for the best in the country last season.

Additionally, Garcia recorded over 70 knockdown blocks and allowed pressures on just 1.8 percent of pass plays, while the national average for offensive tackles was 3.8 percent. Garcia was particularly strong against CFP National Champion Clemson where he graded out at 90 percent with six knockdowns as the Trojans came within six points, 30-24, of knocking off the Tigers.

Over his final two seasons with the Trojans, Garcia allowed just three sacks in nearly 1,700 snaps and recorded 100 knockdown blocks. A two-time All-Sun Belt selection, Garcia started 42 games in his Troy career.

Troy NFL Draft History (Sun Belt Conference Era)
2017 – Antonio Garcia; Third Round (No. 85) – New England Patriots
2012 – Jonathan Massaquoi; Fifth Round (No. 164) – Atlanta Falcons
2011 – Jerrel Jernigan; Third Round (No. 83) -New York Giants
2010 – Cameron Sheffield; Fifth Round (No. 142) - Kansas City Chiefs
2010 – Jorrick Calvin; Sixth Round (No. 201) - Arizona Cardinals
2010 – Levi Brown; Seventh Round (No. 209) - Buffalo Bills
2009 – Sherrod Martin; Second Round (No. 59) - Carolina Panthers
2008 – Leodis McKelvin; First Round (No. 11) - Buffalo Bills
2007 – Brannon Condren; Fourth Round (No. 32) - Indianapolis Colts
2005 – DeMarcus Ware; First Round (No. 11) - Dallas Cowboys

Sun Belt Players Drafted Top Three Rounds
Leodis McKelvin, DB – Troy (1^st, 11, Buffalo Bills, 2008)
DeMarcus Ware, DE – Troy (1^st, No. 11, Dallas Cowboys, 2005)
Johnathan Cyprien, S – FIU (2^nd, No. 33, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2013)
Charles Tillman, CB – UL Lafayette (2^nd, No. 35, Chicago Bears, 2003)
Tyrell Johnson, DB – Arkansas State (2^nd, No. 43, Minnesota Vikings, 2008)
Gerald Everett, TE – South Alabama (2^nd, No. 44, Los Angeles Rams, 2017)
Sherrod Martin, DB – Troy (2^nd, No. 59, Carolina Panthers, 2009)
Tyrone Calico, WR – Middle Tennessee (2^nd, No. 60, Tennessee Titans, 2003)
Rob Housler, TE – Florida Atlantic (3^rd, No. 69, Arizona Cardinals, 2011)
Alex Carrington, DE – Arkansas State (3^rd, No. 72, Buffalo Bills, 2010)
Demario Davis, LB – Arkansas State (3^rd, No. 77, New York Jets, 2012)
Chris Cooley, TE – Utah State (3^rd, No. 81, Washington Redskins, 2004)
Jerrel Jernigan, WR – Troy (3^rd, No. 83, New York Giants, 2011)
Antonio Garcia, OL - Troy (3^rd, No. 85, New England Patriots, 2017)
Dwight Bentley, DB – UL Lafayette (3^rd, No. 85, Detroit Lions, 2012)
T.Y. Hilton, WR – FIU (3^rd, No. 92, Indianapolis Colts, 2012)

Troy University Athletics

Antonio Garcia Selected by Patriots in Third Round of NFL Draft

Players Mentioned

Antonio Garcia

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