AUBURN, Ala. – When T.J. Finley found out he was named the starting quarterback for Auburn this season, there wasn't a big celebration. In fact, it was almost the opposite. His father punched him in the chest and said, "Son, the job is not done."
"It felt amazing to get the news finally, but the job isn't done," Finley said Monday. "I didn't come here just to win a starting job. I came here to lead this team and win an SEC championship and a national championship."
"I'm just proud of him and looking forward to seeing him prepare himself this week and get out there and play," added Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin.
Finley beat out transfers Robbie Ashford (Oregon) and Zach Calzada (Texas A&M) to win the starting job. The 6-foot-7, 250-pound quarterback played in nine games last season for the Tigers and started the team's final three games after Bo Nix got injured. He also came into the game late against Georgia State and led a game-winning touchdown drive.
However, Finley will be the first to tell you he wasn't ready mentally or physically last year. There were flashes of potential – the game-winning drive, the touchdown pass to Landen King in the first overtime against Alabama – but there were also plenty of growing pains.
"What guys don't understand is last year was my second year playing college football," Finley said. "I think a lot of other quarterbacks are granted the opportunity to wait until later their junior year and early their senior year to be able to play and blossom and really show what they've become. I've been thrown into the fire since I was 18 years old."
Now entering his junior year, Finley is not the same player he was a year ago. He worked tirelessly this offseason on his mechanics, his follow-through, his accuracy, his understanding of the offense, his ability to extend plays. And when he showed up to fall camp, it was clear that he was ready to take the next step and ready to lead this Auburn team.
"I think anybody that was at our practices knew that he won the job from a while ago," Harsin said. "I don't think it was any shock whatsoever."
On Sunday, the "QB1" title became official, though, and Finley's hard work was rewarded. He fought off the other quarterbacks who were brought in to take the job from him.
So, what does it take to be a championship-level quarterback in the SEC?
"I'm still trying to figure that out," Finley said. "I haven't won a championship yet at this level, so I can't really answer (that). But what I can answer is the level of preparation that it takes is unbelievable. The hours of film I've had to put in this spring and this fall, the hours of hard work I've had to put in this summer – I never would have imagined that I would have to work this hard just to win the starting quarterback job.
"That's a start. And then hopefully after the season when we come away with a national championship, I'll be able to answer the question."
The job is not done. First up is Mercer on Saturday.
Quarterback 1️⃣@tj_finley1#WarEagle🦅 pic.twitter.com/XGZlQ8GrSd
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) August 28, 2022