Wake Forest opened fall camp on a bit of a downer this weekend. Senior nose tackle Johnny Garcia has likely played his final game with the Demon Deacons. The school announced Monday Garcia had suffered a torn ACL for the second time in his collegiate career. The school expects Garcia to miss the 2014 season as a result.
Wake Forest says the injury happened on Saturday in practice. An MRI later confirmed the worst outcome, a torn ACL. The injury means Wake Forest loses one of the veteran starters expected to anchor the defensive line this season after losing three from last year’s roster.
Garcia played in all 12 games for Wake Forest in 2012 and 2013. As a redshirt freshman in 2011 Garcia chipped in at tight end before flipping back to nose tackle in 2012. A torn ACL in 2010 as a true freshman sidelined him for the season.
Given that Garcia has suffered one torn ACL as a freshman and could miss a full season this year, it may be worth filing a medical waiver to the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. The NCAA has a decent track record of honoring a waiver under these conditions. There is no word yet on whether or not Garcia or Wake Forest will pursue a waiver at this time.