A college quarterback recently found himself in hot water after being accused of car theft. However, he contends that it’s all just a big misunderstanding.
Wednesday saw Tulane quarterback TJ Finley arrested over charges of “illegally possessing a stolen item worth more than $25,000.” Fortunately, he’s now out on bail and insists he lawfully bought the vehicle in Atlanta.
After Finley was released, his legal team was quick to issue a statement.
“TJ Finley fell victim to a scam on Facebook Marketplace,” the statement declared.
The announcement, prepared by lawyers David Courcelle and Scott Stansbury, was shared with ESPN reporter Adam Rittenberg.
“Here’s the situation: TJ bought a used truck from a man claiming to be John Spillway from Mountain Adventures, LLC,” the lawyers explained. “Spillway provided a bill of sale and registration, leading TJ to believe the transaction was legitimate. Just three days later, Tulane police informed him the truck was reported stolen.”
Finley’s attorneys assert that he is determined to cooperate fully with the investigation and intends to get back the money he spent on the vehicle.
“TJ hopes this issue is resolved swiftly so he can focus on his studies and sports endeavors,” they added.
Finley transferred to Tulane in anticipation of playing this season, having previously been with four other colleges. His journey started at LSU as a three-star recruit from Louisiana.
Finley’s college football journey took him from LSU to Auburn, Texas State, and Western Kentucky. He had his breakout year in 2023 at Texas State, leading the Bobcats to an 8-5 record while passing for 3,439 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Now, with the legal trouble behind him, Finley is ready to see the case play out in the coming months. On the field, he’s focused on securing the starting quarterback position for Tulane’s 2025 season. As the spring season progresses, it will be interesting to see if Finley can manage to steer clear of this controversy and shine as the new quarterback for Tulane’s team.
In the midst of this turbulent period, Finley remains set on leaving the issue behind. He is determined to make a name for himself on the football field despite the recent setback.
