Alabama NewsCenter 2022 football preview: Auburn University
Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley (1) practices with the Tigers as the team prepares for the 2022 season that begins Saturday. (Todd Van Emst / AU Athletics)
Auburn coach Bryan Harsin said there was no celebratory yell from T.J. Finley when he was named the Tigers’ starting quarterback.
“I think anybody that was at our practices knew that he won the job from a while ago,” the second-year Auburn coach said. “I don’t think it was any shock whatsoever. It’s really simple. It’s like, all right, let’s do this, ready to go.
“That’s what I like about T.J.,” Harsin continued. “He’s the guy who has been taking the No. 1 reps since January. I’m not sure that he was really surprised by it. But nonetheless, you know, hey, let’s roll. It’s time to go.”
The LSU transfer fended off competition from other candidates before ultimately setting himself apart to be the man taking snaps at 6 p.m. Saturday when the Tigers take on Mercer on Pat Dye Field at Jordan-Hare Stadium on the SEC Network Plus.
While Finley didn’t show it, he admits he was pleased to learn he’s atop the QB depth chart.
“It felt amazing to get the news, but the job isn’t done,” he said. “I didn’t come here just to win a starting job.”
T.J. Finley talks about earning the starting quarterback job on Monday. (Todd Van Emst / AU Athletics)
That fact was punctuated with a punch.
“As soon as I found out the news (Sunday), my dad actually punched me in the chest and told me, ‘Son, the job isn’t done. You can be happy now that you won the job and that it’s released, but the job isn’t done,’” Finley recounted. “I plan on doing my best to lead this team to an SEC championship and a national championship.”
That’s quite an aspiration for an Auburn squad that’s been picked to finish last in the West Division of the Southeastern Conference. Maybe that’s a small demonstration of the main characteristic Harsin said a quarterback must display – toughness in the face of pressure.
“I think toughness is a huge part of that. I really do,” the coach said. “If you really study that position, I think that is the No. 1 trait that you have to have. You watch the really good quarterbacks – and nobody cares about this stuff as much as I do – but 10 years of studying this position, talking to NFL coaches, watching NFL quarterbacks and college quarterbacks and high school quarterbacks, and then talking to college quarterbacks and NFL quarterbacks, the No. 1 thing for me is toughness – that you’re not flinching and watching the guys stand in the pocket.”
Finley said he has worked on “the little things” to prepare for the 2022 season.
“I’m a big guy, so just following through on my release and being pinpoint accurate on most of my throws and really dissecting the offense and meeting with Coach (Eric) Kiesau and Coach Harsin on what the little things are we want to accomplish this season to take this offense to the next level,” he said. “My maturity has allowed me to get to that level within the offense to where I understand every aspect of the offense. I understand what we want to do on first-and-10, second-and-7 or more.”
Finley explained that last year was his second year playing college football. He didn’t get the grace period afforded some signal-callers, who get their chance later their junior year or early their senior year.
“But I’ve been thrown into the fire since I was 18 years old,” he said. “Let’s give it some time and let’s see where it’s going to take off from there. But I think every little part of my game has gone to another level.”
Harsin said growth has not been limited to his starter under center. Improvement can be found up and down the lineup.
“They’re not the same players. They’re not the same guys,” the coach said. Guys improve. They grow. Competition brings out the best in you.
“I think everybody’s made progress in a lot of ways, and I don’t think a lot of guys that we had here last year went backwards in any way,” Harsin said. “I think their football intelligence is better as well as their preparation habits. They’re doing things that we just didn’t do last year. They’re seeing things that we didn’t see last year. I think their effort in practice is better than what we had the previous year. To me, everybody’s making progress and those young guys are coming along.”
Alabama NewsCenter is posting season previews for all 16 college football programs in Alabama. Read previews for Jacksonville State University, the University of North Alabama, Alabama State University, Birmingham-Southern College, Samford University, Faulkner University, Tuskegee University, the University of West Alabama, Troy University, Miles College, Huntingdon College, Alabama A&M University, UAB and the University of South Alabama. Look for a preview of this week’s games on Thursday and a season preview for the University of Alabama on Friday.
