LSU, Auburn, Texas State, Western Kentucky, Tulane, Georgia State, ????? – Transfer Portal Enthusiast, T.J. Finley is Attempting to Transfer to His 7th School in 7 Seasons
I could have sworn we were out of COVID quarterbacks. Apparently not. I present to you, the career of T.J. Finley.
I can't imagine T.J. Finley pictured his career going down this path when he was starting games for LSU as a true freshman. He threw for 265 yards and 2 TD's in his first game. It was an SEC conference game vs South Carolina. If he's doing that as a true freshman, the sky is the limit. There was a moment when LSU fans thought T.J. Finely was there QB of the future.
But he went 1-3 in his next 4 starts. And the minute he faced a little competition at the position, he was out the door. He transferred to Auburn. He must have really enjoyed the transfer process too, because he would go on to do it SO MANY more times. And if the NCAA will let him, he's going for another.
If the NCAA is going to grant T.J. Finley another year of eligibility, then there's nobody they won't give it to. I guess those are basically just the new rules nowadays. On top of a redshirt season, you get an additional injury season.
2020 - LSU - COVID Year (doesn't count)
2021 - Auburn (Year 1)
2022 - Auburn (Redshirt)
2023 - Texas State (Year 2)
2024 - Western Kentucky (Injured so I guess that doesn't count)
2025 - Tulane/Georgia State (Year 3)
2026 - Year 4
What new father T.J. Finley failed to mention in his Instagram post (which I suppose doesn't matter, but kinda seems like it should be mentioned), is why you don't see any Tulane stats on his resume. It's because back in April, Tulane suspended him after he was caught in possession of a stolen truck.
ESPN - Tulane quarterback TJ Finley is once again in the transfer portal after being suspended earlier this month pending the outcome of a legal case.
Finley, who has spent time at five FBS programs in his career, entered the portal Friday morning. He was arrested April 2 on a charge of illegal possession of stolen things worth more than $25,000, after police linked the license plate of a truck he was driving to a stolen vehicle in Atlanta.
His attorneys claim Finley is the victim of a scam after buying a used truck via a social media marketplace. Finley is due in court June 1 in New Orleans
So naturally, he transferred to Georgia State.
I should also mention, while T.J. Finely was at Auburn in 2022, he was arrested for evading police officers on his motorcycle.
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Again, none of that technically matters when it comes to eligibility. But it doesn't do anything to help make me feel bad for the guy.
The Texas State transfer is the one I really don't understand. Texas State had their best season in FBS program history in 2023 with T.J. Finley at QB. He started every game. He threw for 3,439 yards. It was head coach G.J. Kinne's first year with the team. It's not like his head coach was going anywhere. I'd get it if he had a chance to start for a P4 school again. But why would you leave that situation for Western Kentucky? Maybe it's a slight upgrade. Western Kentucky has had some pretty QB's come through their school. Shoutout Bailey Zappe. But T.J. Finley had such a good thing going at Texas State.
And Texas State was still good the year after he left. He had a fine roster to work with. That particular transfer seems like an especially big misstep. Especially because at Western Kentucky, Finley went out with an injury in the 3rd game of the season. Backup QB Caden Veltkamp took over in his absence. And by the time T.J. Finley was healthy again, WKU was 5-1 under Veltkamp. Finley never won the starting job back.
Meaning the injury he believes he deserves another year of eligibility before wasn't really "season ending" the way he claims. His head coach said he was available to start again heading into Week 9. He simply couldn't beat out Veltkamp.
WBKO – Helton said Finley returned to practice last week and was available to play in the New Mexico State game if needed
“You know TJ made it back last week, that was his first week back in practice. He suited (up) for the game, he was available if we needed him. He is in a backup role right now,” Helton said. “I’ve been very impressed with TJ though in the role that he’s playing, (we) always talk about master your role and he like even on the sidelines during the game I’m watching him talk to Caden and telling Caden what what he sees from the sideline so that’s extremely beneficial.”
During the Hilltoppers game against Middle Tennessee, Finley went down with down in the first quarter after taking a hit and the defender taking him down with his full body weight onto Finley’s leg.
Unless he's referencing an injury from another season? But the only other season he played less than 7 games was 2022 at Auburn, which we're already counting as a redshirt year.
But regardless, according to T.J., his story isn't over. If the NCAA is going to let him do it, who can blame him? Someone will almost certainly pay T.J. Finley more money for a year of quarterbacking than any entry level job in the real world will. It would be financially irresponsible for him not to try it. If you can keep a little money, and continue living the college athlete lifestyle, you might as well put off real life for as long as humanly possible. At this point in T.J. Finley's career, I'm sure I'd be doing the same thing.
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The NCAA will probably let him play too. Because it's easier to let someone play a 7th season than risk going down the road of being sued for denying someone the right to work. Which hasn't been a problem for them yet, but that is absolutely going to be thing they have to deal with someday.