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Georgia Tech Football 2017 player preview: Qua Searcy

By Dylan Callaghan-Croley

Nov 19, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Qua Searcy (1) runs for a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers in the third quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Qua Searcy (1) runs for a touchdown against the Virginia Cavaliers in the third quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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The first player previewed in the Georgia Tech Football 2017 player preview is probable starting A-Back, #1 Qua Searcy.

Coming out of high school Qua Searcy was a three-star cornerback and ranked as a top-1000 player in the nation. The Barnesville, Georgia native had an impressive offer list of 14 schools before ultimately deciding on Georgia Tech in June before his senior year of high school.

Once Searcy arrived on campus, the Yellow Jackets made the move to transition Searcy to A-Back. With that being said, Searcy redshirt his true freshman season in 2014. In 2015, Searcy saw time in the Jackets first three games collecting 76-yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. His season would end when he suffered an ankle injury against Notre Dame.

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Last season, Searcy was expected to be a potential breakout season but Marcus Marshall and Dedrick Mill’s quitted Searcy’s chances. Overall, Searcy saw just 46 carries over the Jackets season with a career high of eight against Georgia. Searcy saw himself have a career day on September 10th when he rushed for 91-yards on seven carries against Mercer.

Of course, Searcy’s biggest contribution to the Jackets last season was his game-winning touchdown against Georgia.

What to expect in 2017:

Searcy in 2017 should see more than the 46 carries he saw in 2016 and most likely around the 75-85 mark at the least. Unless Dedrick Mills goes down an injury in 2017, Mills should be the primary ball carrier for the Jackets next season.

Searcy last season saw time in the passing game, bringing down 10 receptions for 183-yards. Even if he doesn’t make as big as a contribution in the run game, he should be a pretty contributive member in the passing game.

Overall, the 5-foot-11, 174-pound A-back is a do it all back who has as much potential as any running back on the team. While he may not have Mills’s ability to run over defenders at will, if he is able to work on his blocking, the poorest of his skill set, Searcy could see himself as the Jackets second best option in the backfield.

With a forty-yard dash speed of 4.4, Searcy has the speed and agility to outrun and juke his way through defenders. Since 2016 wasn’t the breakout season that some hoped for from Searcy, 2017 should be Searcy’s “breakout” season as he should be the starting A-Back entering the season.