Florida Football Freshman Profile: T.J. Searcy looks to get involved early
![Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) passes while under pressure by Florida Gators outside linebacker T.J. Searcy (19) during the second half of the University of Florida Orange & Blue game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Orange defeated Blue 10-7. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Orange And Blue Game](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F1d4c7bc2fb65052edb9e8289a53185ec3d04986940c2f7b77eb7b8c534206c6e.jpg "Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) passes while under pressure by Florida Gators outside linebacker T.J. Searcy (19) during the second half of the University of Florida Orange & Blue game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Orange defeated Blue 10-7. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]Ncaa Football Orange And Blue Game")
As the season fast approaches for Florida football, we are continuing our series of the freshmen on campus and what the odds are they appear this season with the Gators. If you follow recruiting, these will be household names. But if not, these can be a good refresher to catch you up to speed.
We have previously profiled:
- Dijon Johnson
- Sharif Denson
- Ja’Keem Jackson
- Andy Jean
- Will Norman
- Kelby Collins
- Aidan Mizell
- Aaron Gates
- Jordan Castell
- Bryce Thornton
Today we look at one of the splash commitments Billy Napier secured last summer, four-star defensive lineman T.J. Searcy.
Florida Football: A mobile big man
Listed at 6’5″ and 244 pounds, T.J. Searcy was a unanimous four-star from all four recruiting services. ESPN and 247 had him inside their top 300 players.
Out of Upson-Lee High in Thomaston, Georgia, Searcy was used all over the field. While defensive end was his primary spot, he was also used as a lead-blocking full-back and, at times, was asked to play linebacker essentially.
But even when asked to play further from the line of scrimmage, he still had the mobility to make plays and run guys down from a distance.
In our continued series on the website looking at Florida’s freshmen, defensive end TJ Searcy was asked to play in some interesting positions in high school.
— Hail Florida Hail (@HailFloridaHail) August 17, 2023
But even at 6’5” and 244 pounds he still had the mobility to make plays from deep. pic.twitter.com/Be0faaqgbZ
Searcy picked Florida after taking visits to Tennessee, South Carolina, and Clemson.
Odds of redshirting: Medium to low
Prior to the injury to Justus Boone, we would have put this probability in the definitive medium category simply because Searcy is probably sitting fifth on the defensive end depth chart.
His rating of a lower four-star guy was probably fair because while he showcased phenomenal mobility, he didn’t necessarily showcase an array of moves to get past guys.
Napier did praise Searcy in his roll call to start Fall Camp as a guy who did great things in the weight room over the summer, and now with the injury to Boone, there is reason to believe that Searcy will get some early looks in the defensive end rotation.
Next. Bryce Thornton provides safety depth. dark