In sports, the phrase “hard work pays off” is thrown around like two pass-happy teams on a college football Saturday afternoon.
However, that statement hits quite a bit deeper to Incarnate Word wide receiver Jameson Garcia. Through patience and dedication in his faith, the Amarillo High graduate is being rewarded through his hard work, excelling at wide receiver for the Incarnate Word Cardinals.
Two years ago, or even last year, this success never seemed possible for Garcia.
Coming out of AHS in 2023, Garcia was a multi-sport standout. He was an All-District wide receiver for the Sandies, a special teams returner, helped the baseball team and was a top sprinter on the track and field squad. Garcia was always graced with blazing speed but didn’t have the size most colleges gush over. For that reason, a lot of schools shied away from Garcia but not Incarnate Word and head coach Clint Killough. The Cardinals offered Garcia a scholarship and he accepted.
Most athletes know that the transition from being the best in high school to just another player in college is a rough one. It was the same for Garcia. In year one at IWU, Garcia redshirted and barely saw the field. Last season, he played on the special teams and only made three catches at receiver. Those two years were extremely rough for Garcia from a mental aspect and a lot of doubt started to creep in about wanting to stick college football out.
“It was a struggle,” Garcia said. “There are so many things being thrown at you when you’re coming out of high school and going into a college football program. Coming from a place like Amarillo High where I was trusted and depended on, to being a bench player was hard. Being away from home and my family was even harder. It was overwhelming at the time. I think the conversations I had with my family and how strong I am in my faith kept me going. I didn’t want to just quit. I wanted to see the fruits of my labor.”
Garcia made many phone calls to his family and even received calls from his Amarillo High coaches, urging him not to give up. AHS head football head coach Chad Dunnam recalls those conversations.
“When Jameson got to school there at first his dad (Jason) would tell us he was struggling and he wanted to quit and come home,” Dunnam said. “All of us coaches would make the time to call him and make sure that he was doing good and that he was going to stick it out because we know the type of talent Jameson is. Now you look at what he’s doing and his success and we’re all so proud of him.”
Staying at Incarnate Word has definitely benefitted Garcia as the redshirt sophomore has become one of the top outside weapons for the Cardinals. Thanks to the work he put in during the spring, summer and fall camp, Garcia has come into his own and making a name for himself.
Garcia garnered much attention during a Week 2 game against Eastern Washington where he had his first strong showing – snagging six catches for 146 yards with a touchdown. He followed that with an eight catch 78 yard performance against UTSA and last Saturday was his best effort yet where he blistered the Northern Arizona secondary for 116 yards on a career-high nine catches with two scores.
Garcia credits this tremendous season on controlling what he can control and letting all of the negative stuff go. He wears a bracelet on his wrist every game that says “Just Let Go” which has changed his mindset completely.
“I’m playing like me again,” Garcia said. “I’m playing free. I know there is pressure to always perform and out do the last performance but that’s not how I look at it. This bracelet I wear means a lot to me, and it allows me to go out and just be me. It’s a testament to how good the Lord is and the hard work I’ve put in to be where I’m at.”
Dunnam recently saw Garcia over the summer in San Antonio and keeps up with every game. Dunnam can’t say enough of how proud he is to see where Garcia is now.
“It’s awesome to see what Jameson is doing,” Dunnam said. “He is having breakout games. All he needed was that chance and he’s making the most of it. He has elite speed, he is an excellent route runner and he is very strong, so I know he can block on top of his great hands. It’s been fun watching him and we just want him to keep it going.”
