Former Florida EDGE TJ Searcy has announced his commitment to Texas A&M through the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to On3’s Hayes Fawcett. Searcy will have two years of eligibility left.
Searcy spent two seasons with the Gators, making 24 appearances and five starts. During his time in Gainesville, he recorded 60 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.
Searcy achieved career highs in all of those categories this season as his role on the team expanded. For his impressive performance during his debut campaign in 2023, he earned All-SEC Freshman honors.
TJ Searcy played high school football at Upson-Lee in Georgia, where he was rated a four-star prospect. According to the On3 Industry Ranking, which incorporates data from all four major recruiting media companies, Searcy was ranked as the No. 238 overall recruit and the No. 23 EDGE in the 2023 recruiting class.
Texas A&M has been active in the transfer portal this offseason, with TJ Searcy becoming the Aggies’ ninth addition. He joins other defensive standouts like Samuel M’Pemba and Julian Humphrey as part of the team’s efforts to bolster its roster.
Searcy was ranked as the No. 5 EDGE still available in the transfer portal, according to On3’s Transfer Portal Player Rankings. This marks Mike Elko’s first full offseason as Texas A&M’s head coach. In an appearance on Andy & Ari On3, Elko outlined his plans to enhance the team’s performance in Year 2.
“Now, what we’ve got to do is we’ve got to go out and we’ve got to become really good football players. Second year in the system,” Elko said. “Second year in the scheme. Having an opportunity of really going through the details of what we’re doing and how we’re doing it is, I think, going to be really critical.
“So, we’re excited to move this thing forward and get into year two and kind of finish the deal on what we started this year.”
The transfer portal officially opened on Dec. 7 and will remain open until Dec. 28. However, players from teams still competing in the postseason will have an additional five-day window to enter the portal after their seasons conclude.
