Tulane quarterback TJ Finley held for stolen car possession, suspended from team

Tulane University quarterback, TJ Finley, was arrested in New Orleans on charges of illegally possessing a stolen vehicle valued at more than $25,000. The 23-year-old, whose full name is Tyler Jamal Finley, was booked into jail before being released.

As per the media reports, University police responded to a complaint about a truck blocking a driveway. Upon checking the vehicle’s license plate, officers discovered that it was registered as stolen in Atlanta.

According to a Fox 8 live report, Finley arrived shortly after to move the truck and informed the police that he had recently purchased it. He is scheduled to appear in court on June 1.

Tulane University suspends TJ Finley

As per an ESPN report, Tulane University confirmed that Finley has been suspended. They cited federal privacy laws as the reason for not disclosing further details.

The University, according to the report, said that they were aware of the situation involving TJ Finley and that he has been suspended from the football programme pending the outcome of the case.

As per the media reports, it was instructed that head coach Jon Sumrall would not be asked about TJ Finley, but he addressed one media outlet anyway.

However, Jon Sumrall also acknowledged the situation but declined to provide further details. Sumrall, speaking to the media, said that legally he cannot comment on the incident. He added that when things happen off the field, it is unfortunate. He said that when people make mistakes, they ought to be held accountable.

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Finley’s college football journey

As per the reports, Finley transferred to Tulane in December 2024 after a season with Western Kentucky. He had been competing for the team’s starting quarterback position.

The reports stated that a native of Ponchatoula in Louisiana, Finley began his college career at LSU before transferring to Auburn, where he played for two seasons. He, reportedly, later moved to Texas State. He had his most productive season with them, he threw 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Over his five-year collegiate career, Finley had thrown for a total of 6,128 yards with 37 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

Legal proceedings and future uncertainty

According to the reports, Finley’s suspension from Tulane’s football programme is expected to remain in place until the case is resolved. This incident, however, has raised a question mark over his future with the team, especially, since Finley was expected to be a key contender for the starting quarterback position.

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FAQs

What was the reason behind TJ Finley's arrest?
TJ Finley was arrested for allegedly possessing a stolen vehicle that had a value of more than $25,000. He says he bought the vehicle in Atlanta the week before his arrest.

Will TJ Finley play at Tulane?
Tulane has suspended Finley for the time being pending his case. It is still unclear under what circumstances, if any, he will return to the team.