ATLANTA -- Qua Searcy has stepped up and declared his candidacy for Georgia Tech’s open position at A-back.
The redshirt freshman from Lamar County has been enjoying a productive preseason and would be the starter opposite senior Broderick Snoddy if the season began this week.
“Qua has made some plays,” Yellow Jackets head coach Paul Johnson said. “Ike (Isiah Willis) has not been practicing, so if we had to start tomorrow, it would be Broderick and Qua.”
Searcy was a three-sport athlete in high school. He played exclusively on the scout team last year. He has good speed and the ability to catch the ball.
“I think Qua has done some things well,” Johnson said. “He’s very athletic and good with the ball. He’s a good receiver. He has to work on some other facets to get better, but Qua is going to play a bunch.”
Snoddy seemed ready to emerge last year when he broke his leg against Clemson. He has rushed for 483 yards on 65 carries and scored four touchdowns in his career.
Willis is listed as No. 1 on the depth chart but has been injured. Clinton Lynch and Mikell Lands-Davis are also in the mix.
“We’re still looking for some guys out there,” Johnson said.
Joining the competition at A-back is Matthew Jordan, who was moved there from quarterback. It’s the same sort of path taken by Synjyn Days, who moved from quarterback to A-back before finding success at B-back during his senior season.
“We’re trying to give him a chance to play,” Johnson said of Jordan. “He’s a good runner. He can learn the position and still be the third quarterback.”
The B-back spot will start with Marcus Allen, who won the job in the spring, and Patrick Skov, a transfer from Stanford who Johnson said will play a lot.
“(Skov) is a big, physical guy,” Johnson said. “I think he’s going to be hard to tackle. I think he will be a physical blocker. He certainly will help us. He’s going to play. Now, is he going to be the starter? I have no idea. But he will play.”
Freshman Marcus Marshall also has jumped into the competition.
“We’ve got a bunch of guys competing,” Johnson said.
Georgia Tech had a rather non-eventful scrimmage Saturday. The Yellow Jackets ran 109 plays and had only one turnover.
“It had its ups and downs,” quarterback Justin Thomas said. “It was the first scrimmage.”
The scrimmage is the first step toward getting ready for the season opener Sept. 3 against Alcorn State.
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