With the recent news that the Auburn football program had a strong chance of landing a six-foot-six, 250-lb QB transfer, it’s not difficult to see shades of their 2010 National Championship run.
LSU’s TJ Finley is merely a 3-star recruit, but like Cam Newton did over a decade ago, he has an interest in making his way to the Plains to rewrite his legacy. In his freshman season, Finley saw game action in garbage time during two Tiger wins and two Tiger losses.
One of those losses was a 13-24, two-interception performance against Auburn football at Jordan-Hare, and another was a 9-25, two-interception performance at College Station in a loss to Texas A&M.
Besides those two duds, Finley was effective in wins against Arkansas and South Carolina and in a losing effort to Alabama. Against the Gamecocks, Finley was able to find the end zone three times (once with his feet) and had a 3:0 TD-INT ratio against the Hogs and Crimson Tide.
Finley is a gamer with TE size and the ability to run over defenders. He has a strong arm, great size, and an interest in Auburn (per 247Sports):
"“There is an opportunity there,” Finley said. “A lot of people in the organization there since the new staff got there believe I can come in and compete for the starting job. It ain’t like me going there to be a backup.”"
New head coach Bryan Harsin has an eye for quarterbacking talent. He had interest in Zach Wilson and Trey Lance, the #2 and #3 picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, respectively while at Boise State. His staff has been in contact with Finley “every day” over the past week, writes Shea Dixon.
Landing a legitimate QB option to challenge Bo Nix would be next-level thinking from Harsin and co. Nix had a decent performance on A-Day, but he still sailed the ball over the head of his receivers a few times and had a mere 60% completion percentage.
Finley could win the job, but Nix is still the best bet to be starting under center week one against Akron.
Finley would be looming in the background for the starting job if Nix drops the ball week three in Beaver Stadium against Penn State and in Death Valley week five against LSU. Having that competition could bring out the best in Nix.
Or not. Either way, Auburn football would objectively be in better shape if TJ Finley were on the QB depth chart.