A name familiar to fans across the SEC made headlines for the wrong reasons on Thursday.
Former LSU and Auburn quarterback TJ Finley, who committed to Tulane earlier this year — his fifth school in six years — has been arrested in connection with a vehicle that police say was stolen.
According to a report from Fox 8 News in New Orleans, Finley was booked for illegally possessing a stolen item worth more than $25,000. Court documents state that Finley told authorities he had recently purchased the car in Atlanta.
Tulane University issued a statement confirming that Finley has been suspended from the football team pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
“We are aware of the situation involving TJ Finley,” the Green Wave’s statement said. “He has been suspended from the football program pending the outcome of the case. Due to federal laws governing student privacy, we will not disclose any additional information regarding the student, including information related to the disciplinary proceedings.”
Green Wave head coach Jon Sumrall — formerly of Troy — was asked about Finley during his Thursday media availability. As expected, he declined to comment in detail.
“Legally, I can’t. I, I’m not in a position to be able to dive into it,” Sumrall said. “You know, when things happen off the field, it’s unfortunate. And, I’ll let the statement say for what it is. Um, but, when guys make mistakes, then we have to have accountability.”
Whether or not Finley will be cleared remains to be seen, though the allegations were serious enough for him to be booked into jail and tentatively suspended from the team.
Finley’s commitment to Tulane marked his fifth collegiate stop in six years. He began his career at LSU, transferred to Auburn where he spent two seasons, then had one-year stints at Texas State and Western Kentucky.
Best remembered for his play in the 2021 Iron Bowl in which Auburn nearly defeated Heisman winner Bryce Young’s Alabama team, Finley has thrown for over 6,000 yards in his career at various stops.
If the allegations prove to be true, it’s more likely than not his college career will come to an end despite arriving to Tulane with a seemingly very good chance to be their starting quarterback.
