Sometimes the chance to go to a great school and play at a major conference school is just too much to pass up. For linebacker Michael Garcia of the Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida, that was the decision he had to make back in Feburary.

Garcia, a 6-foot-1, 220-pounder was a second team Class 2A All-State selection after leading his team in tackles and leading them to a second round finish in the FHSAA state playoffs after winning the state title in 2004. College schools had taken notice and Garcia had offers on the table from Navy, Temple, Air Force, Florida Atlantic, and Florida International.

But it was his family's school and the attention of a BCS school that made Garcia decide to take an invite to walk-on instead of sign a letter of intent with a D1 school.

"I will be walking on at Vanderbilt this summer," Garcia told VandySports.com. "I ended up having to make an extremely hard decision between the Naval Academy and walking on at Vanderbilt."

"I actually almost committed to Navy while on my official visit, but after talking to my family about my future and a late night phone call from Coach Johnson at VU, decided the Navy just wasn't where I wanted to go, although I did love their program."

"Having two sisters, a brother, and a father go through undergrad at Vanderbilt, and my dad went through Vandy Med school as well, I could not turn down my acceptance."

"I would love to follow in my father's footsteps and become a doctor," says Garcia. "In fact, I believe he was the last person to play football and go through the VU Medical program."

Garcia's father, Martin lettered three years on the Commodores football team from 1972-74.

"He was the catcher in the '73 and '74 SEC championship baseball teams, and was the fullback blocking for his best friend and running back Jamie O'Rourke in the '74 Peach Bowl appearance."

Garcia, who was also recruited by Virginia, Wake Forest, Central Florida, South Florida, and also had a D1-AA offer from Charleston Southern, says that he will have family at the school when he enrolls and is high on Vanderbilt and Nashville already.

"My brother will be a senior at VU next year," says Garcia. "I love Vanderbilt, I love Nashville, I respect Coach Johnson and his staff, I love the type of people Vandy attracts, and after having met some of the players I can't wait to play alongside them."

"I know I have a lot of work to do, but I look forward to the competition and the comaraderie."

Garcia was originally recruited by Vanderbilt defensive back's coach Jamie Bryant. He was able to see the team up close last season when he took an unofficial visit to the Ole Miss game on September 17th.

Garcia also took some other unofficial visits to Virginia, Central Florida, and Navy.

The Bolles School has produced a number of talented prospects in the past and currently has several 2007 juniors that are on the BCS radar (including current Vandy interests Ryan van Rensburg and Grant Sieron). Last season Garcia's teammates Shaun Chapas signed with Georgia and Cannon Gaskin signed with Wake Forest.

Bolles is coached by the all-time winningest football coach in the state of Florida, Corky Rogers and has won seven state titles at the school. Two assistant coaches at Bolles, John Newman (86-88) and David Skinner ('78), lettered for the Commodores football program.

Garcia was also on the track and weightlifting teams at Bolles, running the 100 and 400 meters in track.

Garcia runs a 4.6 in the forty, 4.3 in the shuttle. He also has a bench max of 400 pounds, squat max of 550 pounds and his best bench rep mark is 38 reps. Garcia has also recorded a 35-inch vertical in the past.

Video highlights of Vanderbilt walk-on Michael Garcia during his senior season at Bolles (19 clips): Garcia takes 'em down