Position Change Could Benefit LG’s Garza at Lamar University

Undersized at defensive tackle last year, John Garza is in a better position to contribute this football season.

The La Grange High School graduate said he has moved to strongside linebacker for Lamar University, which is scheduled to compete during the spring.

“His best opportunity to get onto the field would be the inside linebacker position,” said Matt Weikert, defensive coordinator who oversees the inside linebackers.

The 5-foot-11, 229-pound Garza has a different position as the team has moved to a 3-4 defensive scheme this season. “We ran this in high school,” he said. “It’s just about learning the plays. We’ve got to learn the base defense first.”

He appeared in four games last year, when he finished with three tackles. He was credited with a solo tackle and an as-sisted tackle on rushing plays during the fourth period in a Lamar rout of Bethel University. “When I came in, we were in games that were kind of decided,” he said.

As a lineman, he said, his role was “to make sure we stop the run and hold our gap.”

Playing linebacker allows him more liberty to move around. “We have some plays where one of the middle line backers stunts and blitzes the quarterback,” he said.

During practices Garza also has been playing on the punt and punt return units. He was in a shield position on the punt team, responsible for blocking any player who got through the front line to try to block the punt. His assignment on the punt return unit was to rush the punter.

Garza welcomes the position change. “I feel like I will be able to play to my full potential at linebacker,” he said.

More football

Also from the Leopards, Texas State University kicker Alan Orona converted six of seven extra point attempts during a loss to University of Texas at San Antonio. He missed his lone field goal try in the second overtime period.

Send updates about area college athletes to Barbara Boxleitner at jdanddoc@gmail.com.