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Auburn is trying to position itself to pluck a star edge rusher from an SEC rival, as it’s expected to host TJ Searcy, according to a report from Matt Zenitz of 247Sports and CBS Sports.
Searcy announced on social media on Tuesday morning that he was transferring from Florida. The former 4-star recruit from the class of 2023 piled up 34 tackles, 4 tackles-for-loss and 2 sacks this season in helping the Gators recover from a slow start to finish the regular season at 7-5. Searcy also forced 2 fumbles this season.
This could be a huge get for head coach Hugh Freeze and the Tigers for 2025. It would be a double whammy of sorts for Auburn, getting an impact edge rusher like Searcy after a fellow SEC school lost him.
Searcy is a native of Thomaston, Ga., who made an immediate impact as a freshman at Florida in 2023. He finished that season with 26 tackles and earned a spot on the Freshman All-SEC team.
Searcy ended his Gators career on a high note in 2024, posting 5 tackles and a fumble recovery in Florida’s victory over Florida State to end the regular season.
Now, it appears Florida’s loss in 2024 could be Auburn’s gain in 2025.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
