Stephen Garcia signs with the Tampa Bay Storm

Stephen Garcia, whose 7,597 career passing yards rank third all-time at South Carolina, was acquired by the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League on Monday.

"The Storm is always looking for local talent that can make an impact on our roster," said [president of football operations Jeff] Gooch. "Stephen is from the Tampa Bay area and will help add to the level of competition at the quarterback position."

Garcia (6-foot-3, 230 lbs., South Carolina), a standout at Jefferson H.S. (Tampa, FL), enters his first season in the Arena Football League with the Tampa Bay Storm.

Garcia took a year off from football following a stint with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League in 2012. Stephen talked with Clay Travis on the surprisingly excellent Outkick the Podcast about his time with the Alouettes and the end of his career at South Carolina.

Garcia has an open invitation to appear on the Garnet And Black Attack podcast and sort of agreed to do it once but has yet to respond to our attempts to set it up. (We love you, Stephen.)

Just want to say thank you to all the Gamecock fans that have supported me thru the thick & thin.I will always cherish playing at SC!

— Stephen Garcia (@itISwhatITisSG5) January 7, 2014