TJ Finley to Join Incarnate Word for Upcoming Season
Quarterback TJ Finley, known for his journey through multiple college programs, has decided to commit to Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. This will mark the seventh school in his football career.
Reports indicate that Finley was heading to campus as of Tuesday night. His collegiate journey has taken him to several schools: LSU, Auburn, Texas State, Western Kentucky, Tulane, and Georgia State.
Finley, who is originally from Louisiana, faced challenges along the way, including the COVID-19 pandemic and injuries that extended his eligibility. However, off-field issues led to him missing the chance to compete at Tulane.
At 23, Finley had a season at Georgia State where he threw for 1,244 yards, but unfortunately, that came with six touchdowns against seven interceptions. An injury to his shoulder affected his performance throughout the year.
His standout season came in 2023 at Texas State, where he passed for an impressive 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns, along with five rushing touchdowns. He first saw action as a true freshman at LSU in 2020, stepping in due to an injury to starting quarterback Myles Brennan.
In 2021, he played in nine games for Auburn, and four games the following year, but then a significant injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
In 2024, while at Western Kentucky, he faced a season-ending injury and was granted a medical redshirt. Finley initially committed to Tulane for the 2025 season but didn’t compete due to a suspension following an arrest related to possession of stolen property, specifically a Dodge Ram reported missing. He later entered a diversion program following his court appearance.
After this incident, he transferred to Georgia State. In a recent interview, Finley expressed his desire to play for his seventh school, stating he holds high expectations for his life and achievements. As a father of three, he emphasized the importance of resilience.
“I think it would be a disgrace for me to give up on the talent and gift God gave me in football,” he reflected. “The key lesson I try to instill in my sons is to never give up, regardless of circumstances.”
Finley concluded with a hopeful message: “As long as the opportunity is there, you should keep going until your body can’t move anymore.”
