Senior Appreciation Quayshawn Nealy #54, RS SR, Became a Jacket on 12/8/9

Bruce Wayne

Helluva Engineer
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1,870
Senior Appreciation: http://4te.ch/seniors2014

Mr. Nealy of Lakeland Florida was rated as a 3* outside linebacker when Coach Brian Jean-Mary recruited him to Tech from Lakeland HS. Coming out of HS Nealy was named a member of the Florida 2010 Varsity Top 100 and earned a number of Florida state honors. Nealy had a slew of scholarship offers including UVA, Michigan, Louisville, Miss St, and UGA.

As a true Freshman at Tech Nealy redshirted. It was probably a hard call for coaches as in his redshirt freshman year of 2011 he played in all 13 games and started 7 before becoming a three year starter for his remaining seasons. His 2011 highlights included 5 solo tackles and an interception against Maryland and a 74 yard pick-6 against Utah in the Sun Bowl. In 2012 Nealy ranked 4th on the team with 79 tackles including a career high of 12 against Maryland (Q did not fear the Turtle). He also earned ACC LB of the week honors for a 2 sack game against UNC and once again made an interception in the Sun Bowl, this time against USC (read about it here). As a Junior in 2013 Quayshawn again showed off his penchant for takeaways with 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries, including one of each (with the fumble recovery being run back for a TD) against Syracuse. The Syracuse paper was so impressed by Nealy’s performance that he was featured by Michael Cohen. Nealy even stepped up his performance in the bigger games of the season: 9 tackles (7 solo) with 3 for loss at Clemson; 10 tackles (8 solo) against UGA; and 9 tackles against Ole Miss in the Music City Bowl.

Given his junior campaign Nealy came into the 2014 season with a good bit of hype. He was named All-ACC 2nd team by the media and 3rd team by the coaches as well as featured at number 16 on the ACC’s list of players to watch (seen in a video below). His teammates also expected great things from him as they named him a team captain and he was clearly the leader on defense as well as the face of the unit to the media.

Fans typically downplay preseason talk from coaches and players as simply repeating itself year to year no matter the later results. But when one goes back and looks at what was said with the benefit of hindsight, then exchanges such as this one from the ACC media days--as reported by the AJC’s Ken Suguira--read differently: Nealy “was effusive in his praise for the team’s work in summer strength and conditioning workouts. ‘We’ve just been working on trying to finish this summer, because as a whole we realized that in all our games that we missed out on big opportunities because we just didn’t finish plays or finish the game,’ Nealy said. Three games most unsettling to Nealy in that regard were losses to Virginia Tech, Miami and Georgia. Nealy said he has seen the improved effort in sprints, for instance. Where players previously coasted through runs at the end of a set of sprints, just trying to beat the prescribed times, they have pushed themselves more to give maximal effort. ‘That’s when we look at each other and leaders pick the rest of the team up, say something to get ’em going, to push our bodies past the limit of what they’re normally used to,’ he said.”

Quayshawn did not disappoint his teammates or the fans, instead he lived up to the role of team leader and Captain. The 2014 Jackets went on to win all three of the games he considered to have been lost opportunities in the season before. Nealy recorded 90 tackles (55 solo) 6 for loss, 1.5 sacks, 2 interceptions (one pick-6) and led the team with 3 recovered fumbles including one as a scoop and score. He again stepped up in the biggest games: 10 tackles (3 solo) and a half-sack against Clemson; 9 tackles, a pass break-up, and a TD-saving forced fumble against UGA; and 6 tackles with a pass break-up against FSU. Nealy ended his football career at Tech ranked 17th in career tackles by a linebacker with 287.

He also ended his career pictured on the side of a bus at the Orange Bowl in his native Florida: “‘It’s a great honor to be on there and represent Georgia Tech,’ he said. ‘And then to be down here in Florida, back in my home state and finish exactly where I started, it’s a great feeling, and I look forward to finishing on a good note.’” The Jackets finished on a great note in Nealy's final game by winning the Orange Bowl. He contributed 2 solo tackles and a pass break-up. The latter was a big one on 3rd and goal in the 4th quarter to help squelch any chance at a late game comeback by Mississippi State.

In reviewing Nealy's career as a student-athlete at Georgia Tech, however, it is vital to keep in mind that he was a student-athlete at Georgia Tech. At least as important as his on-field accomplishments is the effort he put into his studies and being graduated, including making the Dean's List in the fall of 2012 and earning a degree in Management. Nealy recognized how special leaving Tech by the front door is by tweeting “A lot of people can’t say they made it out but WE DID!”

Honors
* 2014 ACC Second Team (Media)
* 2014 ACC ThirdTeam (Coaches)
* ACC Linebacker of the Week (11.10.14)
* ACC Linebacker of the Week (10.21.13)
* 2013 Preseason First Team All-ACC (Athlon)
* 2013 Preseason Third Team All-ACC (Phil Steele)
* 2012 ACCLinebacker of the Week (11.12.12)

Career Highs
Tackles: 12 at Maryland, Nov. 3, 2012
TFL: 3.0 at Clemson, Nov. 14, 2013
Sacks: 2.0 at North Carolina, Nov. 10, 2012
FF: 1, at Georgia, Nov. 29, 2014
FR: 2, at Pitt, Oct. 25, 2014
Long Fumble Return: 43(td)at NC State, Nov. 8, 2014
PB: 2, vs. Miami, Oct. 4, 2014
INT: 1, eighttimes, last atNC State, Nov. 8, 2014
Long INT Return: 74 (td) vs. Utah, Dec. 31, 2011
 

Bruce Wayne

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,870
Some pics of Captain Quayshawn Nealy.

He was all smiles at Tech:
http://data:image/jpeg;base64,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
25Missst12-30-14_CPJ.JPG

B2hiaFUCUAAWZ2D.jpg:large


Except when he was all business:
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Quayshawn+Nealy+Tavius+Mathers+F32V7iK6ASnm.jpg

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quayshawn-nealy-ncaa-football-georgia-tech-tulane-850x560.jpg



This is arguably his best photo . . . and yet you can hardly see any of him:
gsfmS.AuSt.71.jpg


But without that photo, would we have this one?:
georgiatechfootball.jpg


Team Captain and Tech Graduate Quayshawn Nealy:

seniors_online_edit.jpg

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Last edited:

Bruce Wayne

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,870
First post of videos I found online of Quayshawn focuses on him as a public representative for his team and Institute.

Even from his sophomore season he was ready to give interviews and speak publicly about the team (this is not an easy skill to develop):



Here is a pre-season interview before his Senior campaign (w/ fellow Captain Shaq Mason), as well as the ACC hype video for him:
(Great info on the D here, such as his praise for the secondary and the fact that Roof has the defense over to his home periodically)
"I want to be remembered as a teammate who went out there and gave it his all"

Post-game for the NC State and Clemson games this past year:



And his preview for the Orange Bowl:
 

Bruce Wayne

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,870
Here are a few highlighting plays he made.

Great interception against Syracuse (and reaction shot of Ted Roof):


An interesting video posted to focus only on his play in the Georgia Southern game:


His Pick-6 against Tulane:


One of the crazier plays we ever saw:


And his scoop and score against NC State:
 

Bruce Wayne

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,870
I really appreciate these threads, Bruce. Great job. And thanks for all your hard work and clutch plays, Mr. Nealy.
He really had a lot of clutch plays, didn't he?

Some things I have noticed so far in doing these threads:
1) The impact of redshirt Seniors on this team's success. CPJ always said that line about being better in a 5th year than as a true freshman and you can really see the wisdom in it as a default position when reviewing the impact of a guy like Nealy who probably could have easily been played as a true freshman.
2) How mature and generally how well these guys represented their team and school. I remember CPJ when being asked about his extension at Tech and what he likes about coaching here saying that just as at the Naval Academy he doesn't have to worry about what any of Tech's players will say to the media. If a journalist asks for a player to interview he can say "go pick one" as opposed to a coach at many other programs (especially factories). Nealy personified this even in his sophomore year as just a 21 year-old.
3) That no matter what the offer sheet looks like or what HS awards and recruiting hype they earned, these Tech recruits are rated as "just" 3 stars and yet they created an 11 win season due to effort, team-first attitude, and personal development . . . and they all graduated. Nealy is another great example of this.

(I also have noticed that none of the assistant coaches who recruited these first seniors I have reviewed are still working at Tech! Not sure what to make of it but maybe staff turnover while these guys coalesced as a team highlights just how special was the leadership in this senior class).
 

deeeznutz

Helluva Engineer
Messages
2,329
One of my favorite defensive players of the Johnson era. Captain(s) Morgan are my 1/1a, with Quayshawn, Jemea, and Jeremiah just a half step back. I love all the guys on this team, 2014 was a VERY special year!
 

alaguy

Helluva Engineer
Messages
1,117
I remember him playing in a Fla hi school all-star game and thinking--if this guy can play in this he must be a stud--he is an example of good recruiting--good recruit who showed that in his career --really the glue of the defense for 2 yrs at least
 

CuseJacket

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
18,898
I've had a bad habit of forgetting the history with these seniors on D and how much they've been through. This year's success as a team and all of the highlight-reel plays they made individually was no small accomplishment.

Nealy is someone who has seen his fair share of bad defense at Tech, multiple schemes, and multiple coordinators. Through all of that he pushed through and capped his career off with a successful senior campaign and as captain of a much improved D. Nealy's positive attitude and leadership were must-haves in order to achieve that level of success.

"I just can't help but keep thinking positive," he said. "Wherever I am, I'm going to be happy. I'm not going to let this process just weigh me down, stress me out. I'm going to take care of business, do the best I can and let everything else fall in place."

http://www.theledger.com/article/20150116/SPORTS19/150119476?tc=cr
 
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2,077
A great representative of Georgia Tech and the Lakeland Dreadnaughts. 17th among linebackers in tackles. Georgia Tech is not "Linebacker U" by any means, but there have been a lot of great ones on Grant Field down thru the years, Maxie Baughn, Ted Roof, Pat Swilling, Keith Brooking to name a few.. Being in the top 20 is elite indeed. Congratulations and thank you.
 
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Minawreck

Ramblin' Wreck
Messages
623
Great team leader. Great player. I feel like he still has room to grow as a LB. really hoping he gets his shot at the next level.
 

PantherWreck

Georgia Tech Fan
Messages
50
I will never forget the pick-6 vs Tulane. My first non conference road game and we got to see QuayShawn headed to the visitor section with the rock! Amazing leader and a player that will definitely be missed when we start the season next year. Hopefully some guys can grow to fill his spot.
 
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