Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Former Troup All-American football player Qua Birdsong has a new home. The former University of Central Florida Knight entered his name into the transfer portal earlier this year and committed to Eastern Tennessee State University.

With a coaching change in the offseason at UCF, Birdsong felt it was the right time to move on. Birdsong played in six games as a true freshman with the Knights, recording two solo tackles.

Before heading to Orlando, Birdsong was a true two-way star at Troup High, where he played defensive end, linebacker and tight end. 

Birdsong’s naturally athletic frame has helped him make the transition to linebacker at the collegiate level. 

Birdsong really made his name at linebacker and defensive end, the position he was named to the Under Armour All-Star game for. He had 63 tackles, five TFL, 1.5 sacks, one INT and two forced fumbles during his senior season in 2023. 

In 2022 as a junior, Birdsong led the Tigers with 49 tackles, 12.5 TFL and two forced fumbles as he helped lead Troup to a 12-2 record and only its third ever appearance in the state semifinals. 

Birdsong earned Georgia All-State honors as a sophomore and junior.

It will be a Troup High reunion as Birdsong will join former teammates Isaiah Hall, who appeared in one game as a freshman in 2024, in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Birdsong, Hall and the rest of the Buccaneers’ squad will kick off the season on Aug. 30 at home against Murray State.