T. J. Finley
{{Short description|American football player (born 2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox college football player
| name = T. J. Finley
| image =
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| school =
| currentnumber = 7
| currentposition = Quarterback
| major =
| pastschools =
- LSU (2020)
- Auburn (2021–2022)
- Texas State (2023)
- Western Kentucky (2024)
- Tulane (2025)
| bowlgames =
| highschool = Ponchatoula High School
(Ponchatoula, Louisiana)
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|03|25|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Ponchatoula, Louisiana, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lb = 255
| highlights =
| CFBHOF_id =
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| espn = 4431948
| cbs =
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}}
Tyler Jamal "T. J." Finley{{cite web | title=Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley arrested following alleged police chase | website=WSFA | date=2022-08-04 | url=https://www.wsfa.com/2022/08/04/auburn-quarterback-tj-finley-arrested/?outputType=amp | access-date=2024-10-29}} (born March 25, 2002) is an American football quarterback. Finley has been a member of the football teams for LSU, Auburn, Texas State, Western Kentucky, and Tulane.
Early years
Finley grew up in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and attended Ponchatoula High School.{{cite web|url=https://www.fox8live.com/2019/05/11/lsu-commit-ponchatoula-qb-tj-finley-is-turning-heads-with-his-height-arm/|title=LSU commit and Ponchatoula QB T.J. Finley is turning heads with his height and arm|first=Garland|last=Gillen|website=Fox8Live.com|date=May 10, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2020}} He passed for 2,736 yards with 23 touchdowns and five interceptions in his junior season.{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_78f31d28-2196-11ea-b043-170595626632.html|title=TJ Finley, 3-star QB out of Ponchatoula, stays in state, signs with LSU|work=The Advocate|date=December 18, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2020}} As a senior, Finley passed for 2,738 yards and 21 touchdowns and also scored eight rushing touchdowns.{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/lsu/Article/LSU-Football-recruiting-TJ-Finley-signs-Tigers-National-Signing-Day-140652986/|title=TJ Finley signs with Tigers|first=Sonny|last=Shipp|website=247Sports|date=December 18, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2020}} Finley was rated a three-star prospect and the best quarterback prospect in the state and committed to play college football at LSU as a sophomore in high school over offers from Oregon, Alabama, and Auburn.{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/high_schools/article_454dfee4-6373-11e8-95a1-fb51efef105d.html|title='LSU really sold out for me': Ponchatoula 2020 QB prospect TJ Finley commits to Tigers|work=The Advocate|date=May 29, 2018|access-date=October 25, 2020}}
College career
=LSU=
Finley enrolled at LSU a semester early in January 2020.{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/lsu/Article/LSU-Tigers-football-recruiting-quarterback-commitment-TJ-Finley-early-enrollee-128402773/|title=TJ Finley set to enroll early|first=Shea|last=Dixon|website=247Sports|date=January 28, 2019|access-date=October 25, 2020}}{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Wilson |date=October 25, 2020 |title='He's built for this moment': LSU quarterback TJ Finley ready if Ed Orgeron calls his name |url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_cdf0b6dc-12e0-11eb-9514-4f1632ca1510.html |access-date=October 25, 2020 |website=The Advocate}} He was named the Tigers' starting quarterback leading up to the team's October 24, 2020, game against South Carolina following an injury to starter Myles Brennan.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30170305/lsu-qb-tj-finley-start-vs-south-carolina-myles-brennan-hurt|title=LSU QB TJ Finley to start vs. South Carolina with Myles Brennan still hurt|first=Alex|last=Scarborough|website=ESPN.com|date=October 22, 2020|access-date=October 25, 2020}} In his first career start, Finley completed 17 of 21 pass attempts for 265 yards with two touchdowns and an interception and rushed for 24 yards and a touchdown.{{cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/2158834/2020/10/25/lsu-football-tj-finley-quarterback-win-south-carolina-2020-sec/|title=TJ Finley makes statement debut, leads LSU to bounce-back win vs. South Carolina|first=Brody|last=Miller|website=The Athletic|date=October 24, 2020|access-date=October 25, 2020}} Finley started five games and finished the season with 80-of-140 passes for 941 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions.{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_421c5a7e-ae82-11eb-971f-7fce4d65c3e6.html|title=Former LSU quarterback TJ Finley opens up about transfer decision, seeking 'best fit for me'|work=The Advocate|first=Brooks|last=Kubena|date=May 6, 2021|access-date=May 10, 2021}}
After competing with quarterbacks Myles Brennan and Max Johnson in spring practice, Finley announced he would be entering the transfer portal.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/31397017/lsu-tigers-quarterback-tj-finley-says-intends-enter-ncaa-transfer-portal|title=LSU Tigers quarterback TJ Finley enters NCAA transfer portal|first=Adam|last=Rittenberg|website=ESPN.com|date=May 6, 2021|access-date=May 10, 2021}}
=Auburn=
On May 24, 2021, Finley announced that he would be transferring to Auburn over offers from Alabama, Penn State, and Houston.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/31504071/former-lsu-starting-quarterback-tj-finley-transferring-auburn-tigers|title=Former LSU starting quarterback TJ Finley transferring to Auburn Tigers|website=ESPN.com|publisher=Associated Press|date=May 24, 2021|access-date=May 26, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2021/05/auburn-alabama-among-finalists-for-sec-qb-transfer.html|title=Auburn, Alabama among finalists for SEC QB transfer|first=Matt|last=Zenitz|website=AL.com|date=May 23, 2021|access-date=May 26, 2021}} On September 25, 2021, Finley would come in in the fourth quarter for a benched Bo Nix and throw the game-winning touchdown versus Georgia State.{{Cite web |last=Durando |first=Bennett |date=September 25, 2021 |title=How TJ Finley brought Auburn football from behind to avoid upset vs. Georgia State |url=https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/auburn/2021/09/25/how-tj-finley-brought-auburn-football-behind-avoid-upset-vs-georgia-state/8357356002/ |access-date=September 30, 2021 |website=Montgomery Advertiser}}
Finley was named Auburn's starting quarterback for the Tigers' opening game of the 2022 season. On August 4, 2022, he was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant of eluding police officers on two separate occasions while riding his motorcycle without a helmet throughout the city of Auburn.City of Auburn (August 4, 2022). [https://openline.auburnalabama.org/article/4768/ Auburn man arrested after eluding police.] Auburn, Alabama.
On May 2, 2023, Finley announced his intention to enter the transfer portal. He graduated from Auburn and participated in the school's 2023 Summer Commencement ceremony.
= Texas State =
On January 16, 2024, Finley announced that he would enter the transfer portal for the third time as a graduate transfer.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/texas-state-qb-t-j-finley-enters-transfer-portal-on-heels-of-jayden-de-laura-committing-to-bobcats/|title=Texas State QB T.J. Finley enters transfer portal on heels of Jayden de Laura committing to Bobcats|website=CBS Sports|first=Will|last=Backus|date=January 16, 2024|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
= Western Kentucky =
On January 22, 2024, Finley announced that he would transfer to Western Kentucky.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/group-five/cusa/transfer-portal-tj-finley-former-texas-state-qb-commits-to-western-kentucky-wku-caden-veltkamp|title=Transfer Portal: TJ Finley, Former Texas State QB, Commits To Western Kentucky|magazine=Sports Illustrated|first=Kevin|last=Barral|date=January 22, 2024|access-date=January 26, 2024}} On December 7, 2024, Finley announced that he would enter the transfer portal for the fourth time.{{cite web|url=https://www.on3.com/news/western-kentucky-qb-tj-finley-plans-to-enter-transfer-portal/|title=Western Kentucky QB TJ Finley plans to enter transfer portal|website=On3.com|first=Pete|last=Nakos|date=December 7, 2024|access-date=December 7, 2024}}
=Tulane=
On December 16, 2024, Finley transferred to the Tulane Green Wave.{{cite web | url=https://247sports.com/season/2025-football/transferportal/ | title=2025 College Football Transfer Portal }}
On April 4, 2025, Finley was suspended indefinitely from the Tulane football team following his arrest for illegal possession of a stolen Dodge RAM truck valued at greater than $25,000.Rittenberg, Max (April 4, 2025). [https://www.espn.com.au/college-football/story/_/id/44519772/tulane-qb-tj-finley-suspended-indefinitely-arrest#:~:text=Tulane%20coach%20Jon%20Sumrall%20briefly,they%20have%20to%20have%20accountability.%22 Tulane QB TJ Finley suspended indefinitely following arrest.] ESPN.Mitchell, Justin, and Marco Cartolano (April 3, 2025). [https://www.nola.com/news/crime_police/tj-finley-arrest-facebook-scam/article_3bb7af75-6f41-4675-b96c-cba1d5a8620c.html Tulane quarterback arrested over stolen truck was victim of Facebook scam, attorneys say.] NOLA.com.
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! colspan="3"| Games ! colspan="8"| Passing ! colspan="4"| Rushing | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| colspan="17" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|LSU Tigers}}" | LSU Tigers | ||||||||||||||
| 2020
| 6 || 5 || 2−3 || 80 || 140 || 57.1 || 941 || 6.7 || 5 || 5 || 118.2 || 29 || 34 || 1.2 || 1 | ||||||||||||||
| colspan="17" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Auburn Tigers}}" | Auburn Tigers | ||||||||||||||
| 2021
| 9 || 3 || 0−3 || 70 || 128 || 54.7 || 827 || 6.5 || 6 || 1 || 122.9 || 20 || –36 || –1.8 || 1 | ||||||||||||||
| 2022
| 4 || 3 || 2−1 || 33 || 53 || 62.3 || 431 || 8.1 || 1 || 4 || 121.7 || 17 || 33 || 1.9 || 1 | ||||||||||||||
| colspan="17" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Texas State Bobcats|color=white}}" | Texas State Bobcats | ||||||||||||||
| 2023
| 13|| 13 || 8−5 || 279|| 414|| 67.4 || 3,439 || 8.3 || 24 || 8 || 152.4 || 78 || 69|| 0.9 || 5 | ||||||||||||||
| colspan="17" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Western Kentucky Hilltoppers}}" | Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | ||||||||||||||
| 2024
| 3 || 3 || 2-1 || 48 || 75 || 64.0 || 491 || 6.5 || 1 || 2 || 117.9 || 11 || 20 || 1.8 || 0 | ||||||||||||||
| colspan="17" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Tulane Green Wave}}" | Tulane Green Wave | ||||||||||||||
| 2025
| 0 || 0 || 0-0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Career{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tj-finley-1.html|title=T.J. Finley College Stats|website=Sports-Reference.com|access-date=December 9, 2023}}
! 35 | 27 | 14−13 | 510 | 810 | 62.9 | 6,129 | 7.6 | 37 | 20 | 136.6 | 155 | 120 | 0.8 | 8 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://auburntigers.com/sports/football/roster/t-j--finley/17615 Auburn Tigers bio]
- [https://lsusports.net/sports/football/roster/tj-finley/24295 LSU Tigers bio]
- [https://txst.com/sports/football/roster/tj-finley/10458 Texas State Bobcats bio]
- [https://wkusports.com/sports/football/roster/tj-finley/5291 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers bio]
{{LSU Tigers quarterback navbox}}
{{Auburn Tigers quarterback navbox}}
{{Texas State Bobcats quarterback navbox}}
{{Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Finley, TJ}}
Category:Players of American football from Louisiana
Category:People from Ponchatoula, Louisiana
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:LSU Tigers football players
Category:Auburn Tigers football players