The New England Patriots selected Antonio Garcia, Troy’s highly decorated offensive lineman, in the third round of the NFL Draft Friday night.
Garcia becomes the first Trojans picked in the draft since the Falcons took defensive lineman Jonathan Massoquoi in the fifth round of the 2012 event. Garcia, a first-team all-Sun Belt Conference selection last season, was taken with the 85th pick.
“I’m extremely proud of the man and player that Antonio has become,” Troy head coach Neal Brown was quoted in a Troy media release. “He came to Troy at 250 pounds and has truly developed into one of the premier offensive lineman in the country.