Tulane's TJ Finley Makes His Mark as a Nomadic Quarterback with His Fifth Educational Institution
In the world of college football, transfers have become a common occurrence. One notable example is JT Daniels, who moved from West Virginia to Rice for the 2023 season, joining the ranks of quarterbacks like Jordan McCloud and Casey Thompson, who also switched teams in 2024. Then there's Clifton McDowell, who had an incredibly nomadic career, finishing last season with McNeese State, his sixth team.
Leading this trend of frequent changes is TJ Finley. After committing to LSU in 2018, he signed with Tulane in December 2021, following a series of transfers. Finley started five games for LSU as a freshman and transferred to Auburn the following year, starting six games there. Injury struck again, and he found himself in the portal once more, landing at Texas State for the 2023 season. With the Bobcats, he had a standout year, leading the team to its first bowl appearance and even making it to Western Kentucky in 2022, only to be sidelined by an ankle injury.
Tulane coach Jon Sumrall was in need of an experienced quarterback after Darian Mensah left for Duke and a reported $8 million NIL deal, making Finley's fifth collegiate destination an appealing option. But Finley isn't alone in his quest for a stable football home.
Harrison Bailey, a highly touted recruit, started twice for Tennessee before transferring to UNLV and then Jeff Brohm's Louisville Cardinals as a preferred walk-on. He made his mark in the Sun Bowl, throwing three touchdown passes and two interceptions, but is now back in the SEC with Florida as a veteran backup.
Zach Calzada also found himself in the portal, moving from Texas A&M to Auburn, where he competed with TJ Finley for the starting spot, but ultimately landed at FCS member Incarnate Word. He's now with his third SEC program, Kentucky, where he'll compete with redshirt freshman Cutter Boley.
Other football nomads include Timmy McClain, Chandler Morris, and Reese Poffenbarger, all of whom have moved around in search of a stable playing environment. The trend of multiple transfers is alive and well in college football, as these examples illustrate.
Related Topics:
- College Football Players' Transfers: An Analysis
- The Impact of Transfer Portal on College Football
- The Rise of Successful College Football Nomads
[1]: Source: ESPN[2]: Source: ESPN, The Athletic
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- In the same vein, TJ Finley from Kentucky football is planning to transfer again for the 2025 season, making it his sixth college football team.
- Virginia football is reportedly interested in acquiring the services of TJ Finley, joining the growing list of SEC quarterbacks vying for his commitment.
- The transfer portal has been a blessing for quarterbacks like Finley, Calzada, and others, allowing them to explore new opportunities and improve their career trajectories.
- Besides Finley, JT from Tulane and Zach Calzada from LSU football are also contemplating their next moves, considering numerous transfer offers from various college football teams.
- As the 2025 college football season approaches, TJ Finley's decision to transfer yet again could shake up the SEC quarterbacks' landscape and influencence the division's power dynamics.
- Fans and analysts alike are keeping a close eye on Finley's decision and the wider trend of college football transfers, as it could significantly impact the future of the sport.
- Finley's case illustrates how the transfer portal has become a crucial element in the college football landscape, giving players the flexibility to seek better performing teams and career-boosting opportunities.
