T.J. Finley

HISTORY — From College Profile

Before WKU: Finley comes to WKU after stops at Texas State, Auburn, and LSU. He spent one season with the Bobcats and received All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention, Phil Steele All-Sun Belt Fourth Team, Manning Award Watch List, and Davey O'Brien Award Midseason Watch List recognitions. He was named Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Week after leading Texas State to a victory at Baylor in Week 1, he was a two-time Manning Award Star of the Week, and a Davey O'Brien Great 8 selection during the 2023 season as well. He finished the year throwing for 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns to just eight interceptions on 279-of-414 passing while starting all 13 games. He also rushed for 81 yards and five touchdowns. Finley set the Texas State program record for passing yards in a season, finished 17th in the country in passing yards, ranked 23rd in the nation in passing yards per game and passing touchdowns, ranked 16th in the country in completion percentage, and was 23rd in passing efficiency. He helped the Bobcats have the 15th-best offense in the country (457.6 yards per game) and the 28th-best passing offense (270.9 yards per game). He led Texas State to its first-ever win over a Power Five team with the victory against Baylor and to the program's first bowl win with a 45-21 win over Rice in the First Responder Bowl. Over his three seasons with LSU (2020) and Auburn (2021-22), he started 11 games and appeared in 18. He threw for 2,199 yards and 12 touchdowns to 10 interceptions on 183-of-321 passing and also recorded a pair of rushing touchdowns. He started three games as a sophomore at Auburn in 2022 and appeared in four games, but missed several due to injury. He played in nine games with three starts as a freshman in 2021. In his first college season at LSU in 2020, he started five games and led the Tigers to victories over South Carolina and Arkansas.

HIGH SCHOOL 

Finley was a three-year starter at Ponchatoula High and was rated the top prep quarterback in Louisiana in 2019. He scored 72 touchdowns – 58 passing and 14 rushing – during his prep career and was named 2019 LSWA Class 5A All-State. He completed 168 passes as a senior for 2,738 yards and 21 touchdowns, and also rushed for eight. He passed for 2,736 yards and 23 scored as a high school junior in 2018, and scored an additional five touchdowns rushing. He also lettered in basketball.