Quarterback T.J. Finley is once again exploring options in the NCAA transfer portal, possibly marking his fourth transfer in a span of five years. Initially joining LSU in 2020, he spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons at Auburn before moving to Texas State last season. During his time at Texas State, he achieved notable success, amassing 3,439 passing yards and 24 touchdowns, contributing to the team’s inaugural bowl game appearance. Despite announcing his intention to return to Texas State for the 2024 season last week, Finley unexpectedly found himself in a situation of competition with the recent commitment of former Arizona quarterback Jayden de Laura, leading him to re-enter the transfer portal. His Instagram post on Tuesday conveyed his gratitude to Texas State, emphasizing the business aspect of his decision.
Just spoke to T.J. Finley. He said he wasn’t aware of Jayden de Laura’s commitment to #TXST before it happened yesterday. When asked if his plan was to come back to the Bobcats before yesterday, he said “100%” https://t.co/Y2yI2FIQyT
— Keff Ciardello (@Keff_C) January 16, 2024
Standing at 6-foot-7 and weighing 255 pounds, T.J. Finley showcased his talents during his true freshman year at LSU in 2020, recording 941 passing yards and five touchdowns in five games. The following season, he stepped into the starting role at Auburn for five games in 2021 due to injuries to Bo Nix, delivering 827 passing yards, six touchdowns, and just one interception.
In Auburn’s 2022 season opener against Mercer, Finley assumed the starting position after Nix’s transfer to Oregon. However, he later found himself coming off the bench behind Robby Ashford in the subsequent three games. Subsequently, Finley decided to take a redshirt year, sitting out the remainder of the 2022 season. He then made a significant impact during the 2023 season, starting in all 13 games for Texas State.
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