Tag: TJ Finley

Former LSU football quarterback TJ Finley transfers to Tulane

A former LSU quarterback and Louisiana native is transferring back home

A former LSU quarterback has reportedly found a new school after entering the transfer portal.

[autotag]TJ Finley[/autotag] will play the 2025 season at Tulane after signing with the Green Wave. It will be his sixth season of college football and his fifth school.

In 2024 at Western Kentucky, Finley won the starting role, but a leg injury in early September sidelined him, and he did not get the QB1 job back upon returning. In three games, he passed for 490 yards and one touchdown.

Across his five-year career, Finley’s totaled 6,128 passing yards and 37 touchdowns. The Ponchatoula, LA native ranked as the No. 18 recruit in his home state and No. 32 at quarterback. He chose LSU as part of the 2020 recruiting class, throwing for 941 yards and five touchdowns that season under former head coach [autotag]Ed Orgeron.[/autotag]

Finley spent the next two years at Auburn, amassing 1,258 passing yards and seven touchdowns with the Tigers. He transferred to Texas State for the 2023 season, which was his best season, with 3,439 passing yards and 24 touchdowns in addition to 81 rushing yards.

Tulane was in the market for a quarterback after breakout star Darian Mensah transferred to Duke. Finley’s big arm could make for a good fit in Joe Craddock’s offense. The Green Wave made a living off the big play in 2024 and will hope to have a similar identity in 2025.

There’s excitement at Tulane as head coach Jon Sumrall passed on bigger jobs to remain in New Orleans.

TJ Finley enters transfer portal, seeking fifth collegiate home

The former Auburn quarterback played in three games for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in 2024.

One former Auburn quarterback is on the market yet again.

[autotag]TJ Finley[/autotag], who played in 13 games for Auburn during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, has entered the transfer portal after spending the 2024 season at Western Kentucky. According to his announcement via his Instagram page, Finley will apply for a medical redshirt due to a season-ending ankle injury, which could give him two more seasons of eligibility.

Finley transferred to Western Kentucky ahead of the 2024 season after a successful stint at Texas State, where he passes for 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns. However, he elected to find a new home after the transfer of Jordan McLeod into the program. After an injury limited his action to just three games this season for the Hilltoppers, Finley will look for his fifth collegiate home for the 2025 season after spending time at LSU, Auburn, Texas State, and Western Kentucky.

Finley passed for 490 yards and a touchdown this season for Western Kentucky. His best game came against Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 7, where he passed for 351 yards and a score. He was held to under 100 yards passing in the Hilltoppers’ season-opening loss to Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

In five collegiate seasons, Finley has passed for 6,128 yards and 37 touchdowns with 20 interceptions and a completion percentage of 63%.

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Former LSU quarterback enters transfer portal for a fourth time

Former LSU QB TJ Finley is back in the transfer portal for a fourth time

One former LSU quarterback will go in search of his fifth school this offseason.

[autotag]TJ Finley[/autotag] plans to enter the transfer portal, according to an Instagram post shared from his account on Saturday. The redshirt junior spent time at LSU, Auburn, and Texas State before joining Western Kentucky in 2024.

After earning the starting role, Finley suffered a leg injury in early September and was QB2 upon returning. He threw for 490 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in three games in 2024. Following his injury, Cade Veltkamp took over as the starter and led Western Kentucky to a 7-1 record.

Through his five collegiate seasons, Finley racked up 6,128 passing yards and 37 touchdowns. As a starter, he is 14-13 and will look to improve upon that record with a new team.

As part of LSU’s 2020 recruiting class, Finley ranked as the No. 18 prospect in Louisiana and No. 32 overall at his position. The Ponchatoula, LA native donned the purple and gold for one season and made five appearances, throwing for 941 yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions.

After two seasons with Auburn, the gunslinger took his talent to Texas State in 2023 before joining Western Kentucky.

Finley had success with the Bobcats in 2023. He was one of the Sun Belt’s top passers and threw for 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns with a 152.4 passer rating.

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Western Kentucky tabs TJ Finley as starter for season opener at Alabama

The former Auburn QB will get one more shot at beating Alabama when the Hilltoppers invade Tuscaloosa this Saturday.

Former Auburn quarterback [autotag]TJ Finley[/autotag] will get one more shot at beating Alabama this season.

Finley, who played quarterback at Auburn from 2021-22, transferred to Western Kentucky during the offseason after spending the 2023 season at Texas State. Earlier this week, Hilltoppers head coach Tyson Helton named Finley the starting quarterback for their season opener at Bryant-Denny Stadium with the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer shared his initial assessment of Finley after the announcement.

“He’s got a skill set that you can utilize in a number of different ways,” DeBoer said Monday. “And then, he’s a big son of a gun, so he’s a guy that can fall forward. And if he does, he’s going to go for three or four yards just getting downhill.”

Alabama offensive coordinator, Kane Wommack, played against Finley last season as the head coach of South Alabama. He provided a positive report on Finley following Texas State’s 52-44 win over the Jaguars, in which Finley passed for 368 yards.

“Really impressed with him a year ago,” Wommack said. “He’s got a really good release. He can make all throws. I thought he did a really good job of managing their offense really well. Took what was given early, but can work through a progression. And so, it’ll be interesting to see how Tyson (Helton) and their staff utilizes him.”

Finley, who is playing for his fourth collegiate program, takes over for Austin Reed as Western Kentucky’s top quarterback following a two-year stint that saw him pass for over 8,000 yards and 71 touchdowns. Finley departed Texas State in the offseason following the transfer of former James Madison quarterback Jordan McCloud into the program. Finley passed for 3,287 yards and 24 touchdowns during his lone season in San Marcos.

In two previous games against Alabama, Finley has completed 57% of his passes (31-of-54) for 281 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

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Former LSU QB TJ Finley named starter at Western Kentucky

Former LSU QB TJ Finley was named the starter at Western Kentucky.

Former LSU QB [autotag]TJ Finley[/autotag] was named the starter at Western Kentucky ahead of the Hilltoppers Week 1 match with Alabama.

For Finley, WKU is career stop No. 4. After beginning his career at LSU, he spent two seasons at Auburn. He found success with Texas State in 2023, but the Bobcats opted for JMU transfer Jordan Mcleod. That left Finley looking for a new home.

WKU has been kind to transfer QBs in recent years. Most notably, Bailey Zappe put up historic numbers in 2021.

Week one will be Finley’s third career game against Alabama. Finley previously saw the Tide in his time with LSU and Auburn.

A former three-star recruit from Louisiana, Finley looked like LSU’s future for a brief moment in 2020, but LSU’s QB room got crowded.

Finley’s 2023 was a career year. He threw for 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns while posting a 152.4 passer rating. All three marks were career highs.

Entering his fifth year of college football, Finley will look to finish on a high note. Liberty is the favorite in Conference USA, but WKU poses the biggest threat to the Flames.

If things go right, Finley has the talent to lead WKU to a conference title and continue the trend of offensive success under Ty Helton.

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Former LSU wide receiver joins Western Kentucky

Former LSU wide receiver Koy Moore found a new home earlier this week.

A former LSU wide receiver found a new home earlier this week.

[autotag]Koy Moore[/autotag] transferred to Western Kentucky, making it his third stop after he began his career at LSU before hitting the portal and landing at Auburn.

Moore played at LSU from 2020-21. LSU’s depth was tested during the COVID year and Moore was forced into action as a true freshman. He caught 22 passes for 177 yards in 2020, but was less of a factor in 2021, catching five passes for 71 yards.

Moore was one of a handful of Tigers to transfer amidst the coaching transition.

In 2022, Moore got a real opportunity at Auburn and caught 20 passes for 314 yards and a score. Against LSU, he ended up throwing an interception to [autotag]Harold Perkins Jr.[/autotag] on a trick play.

Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin was fired, but Moore stuck around in 2023 and caught three passes for 24 yards.

At Western Kentucky, Moore will be reunited with former LSU and Auburn QB [autotag]TJ Finley[/autotag]. Moore’s time overlapped with Finley’s at both previous stops.

Western Kentucky has had some high-flying offenses in recent years and Moore will hope to help continue that trend.

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Where are former LSU quarterbacks TJ Finley and Max Johnson now?

Where are former LSU quarterbacks TJ Finley and Max Johnson in 2024?

LSU’s quarterback situation in 2020 was a revolving door. Following the departure of [autotag]Joe Burrow[/autotag], the Tigers failed to find a steady presence behind center.

[autotag]Myles Brennan[/autotag] began the year as QB1 before an injury ended his year. LSU was then forced to play two true freshmen: [autotag]TJ Finley[/autotag] and [autotag]Max Johnson[/autotag].

Finley and Johnson both had their moments. Finely led LSU to a win over South Carolina in his first start, completing 81% of his passes for 265 yards and two scores.

The next week, Finley struggled at Auburn, leading LSU to give Johnson a chance.

Johnson’s high came at Florida. 2020 was a struggle for LSU, but Johnson managed to lead an upset of No. 6 Florida in the Swamp. Johnson threw three scores that night and looked like the future of the position.

Finley transferred to Auburn and Johnson won LSU’s starting job in 2021. He put up a respectable performance and threw for 27 TDs, but following Ed Orgeron’s departure, Johnson hit the portal and ended up at Texas A&M.

Both quarterbacks went on to see coaching changes at their second school. Finley left Auburn after Bryan Harsin was fired, transferring to Texas State.

Johnson spent the last two years at Texas A&M but transferred to North Carolina during the Aggies’ coaching transition.

As both enter their fifth year of college football, Finley is on his fourth stop while Johnson is on his third.

Some were confused by Finley’s decision to enter the portal after his year at Texas State. Finely threw for 3,440 yards and 24 touchdowns, and his 103.8 NFL passer rating was second in the Sun Belt. Despite those numbers, Texas State went in a different direction, eventually landing former James Madison QB Jordan McCloud.

Now, Finley is at Western Kentucky, where he has the chance to lead another explosive offense. Johnson is at North Carolina with the Tar Heels hoping he can replace the big shoes of Drake Maye.

Finley and Johnson are talented players who have been dealt tough hands in their collegiate careers given the state of the programs they played for. Much of it was out of their control, but both will look to make the most of their new spots in 2024.

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Former LSU QB TJ Finley commits to fourth school

TJ Finley had a big season in the Sun Belt with Texas State in 2023.

Former LSU quarterback [autotag]TJ Finley[/autotag] is spinning the transfer wheel once again.

After a prolific season at Texas State, the veteran passer entered the transfer portal for the third time this offseason. On Monday, he announced his commitment to Western Kentucky.

A native of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, Finley started five games due to injury as a true freshman in 2020. He entered the transfer portal following that season and landed at Auburn, where he would be an occasional starter over the next two seasons.

He had something of a career resurgence with the Bobcats this season, starting all 13 games while totaling more than 3,500 yards and 29 touchdowns with just eight interceptions.

Now, he joins a Western Kentucky program that has had quite a bit of success with transfer quarterbacks. Houston Christian transfer Bailey Zappe set FBS records for passing yards and touchdowns in 2021, while West Florida transfer Austin Reed also saw a lot of success over the previous two seasons.

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Report: Robby Ashford to enter transfer portal

Ashford passed for 1,758 yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons on the Plains.

It appears that a spot has opened up on Auburn’s quarterback depth chart.

According to a report by Nubyjas Wilborn of Newsweek, sophomore quarterback [autotag]Robby Ashford[/autotag] has entered the transfer portal after spending two seasons on the Plains.

Originally signing with Oregon, Ashford returned to his home state ahead of the 2022 season. He split time with former Auburn quarterback [autotag]TJ Finley[/autotag] before Finley suffered a shoulder injury in Auburn’s loss to Penn State in week three, thus paving the way for Ashford to take the reigns of the offense.

He returned to the role of secondary quarterback in 2023, sharing time with Michigan State transfer [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag]. He rushed for 217 yards and five touchdowns for the Tigers this season, while passing for just 145 yards and two scores.

This chapter in Ashford’s college career closes with 1,758 passing yards and nine touchdowns. He also rushed for 927 yards and 12 scores. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

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Former Auburn QB is a ‘difference maker’ at Texas State

Texas State head coach GJ Kinne is pleased with what he has seen out of former Auburn quarterback TJ Finley.

Auburn fans celebrated the start of a new era on Saturday by watching their favorite team earn a 59-14 win over UMass.

Halfway across the country, a member of the program’s past era celebrated a win of his own.

[autotag]TJ Finley[/autotag] appeared in 13 games during his two-year stint with Auburn and would pass for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns. Finley learned that the quarterback battle at Auburn would be moving forward without him, so he elected to enter the transfer portal. He found a new home within the Sun Belt Conference at Texas State University.

On Saturday, Finley threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns in Texas State’s upset win over Baylor in Waco.

Texas State head coach GJ Kinne calls Finley a “difference-maker” and recalls when he discovered Finley was in the transfer portal.

“I was in New Braunfels, over there and I saw his name go in the portal,” Kinne tells Andy Staples of On3. “I talked to a couple people, got his number, reached out to him and kind of gave him my spiel. He came on an official visit later that week and he had a couple other P5 OVs lined up, and after the OV he canceled them and decided to be a Bobcat, which was huge.”

The Bobcats’ win over Baylor was impressive, and Kinne will rely on Finley to produce more wins this season. Finley steps into a new situation in San Marcos, which may help him reach his full potential.

“He just needed to be in the right system,” Kinne said. “If you look at his career, the guys that recruited him for their system kind of left. So it was a situation where we felt really confident in his abilities, we just had to get him here.”

Finley will face another challenge this Saturday, as he will lead Texas State into the Alamodome to face UTSA.

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