The University of Florida football team has a real-life hero on their squad.

Gators linebacker Cristian Garcia is gaining national attention after he saved a 19-year-old woman from being sexually assaulted against a dumpster behind the Gainesville bar he works at early Friday morning.

"God put me in the right place at the right time," Garcia told ABC News about being present to stop the crime.

Garcia, who will be a junior this fall, said he went to take out the trash when he saw the victim "pinned up against a dumpster" behind the 101 Cantina bar. The man sexually assaulting her claimed that the victim was his girlfriend, but her limp state said otherwise.

Garcia said he grabbed the man "by the shoulders" and that the assaulter "began to get violent," before slipping and busting his face on the floor. Realizing that Garcia wasn't going to leave the young lady's side, the man and his friends took off running.

"It was fight or flight and I just reacted," Garcia said. 

The heroic football player was later able to identify the suspect, Christopher Shaw, in a photo lineup. Shaw, 34, was charged with sexual battery with a bail set at $500,000. 

Since springing into action, Garcia has been humbled by all the attention he has been getting.

"The attention has been cool," he said, "but a horrible act happened that night."

To watch his full interview with ABC News, click the video below.

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