Auburn OC Eric Kiesau reveals how TJ Finley responded to quarterback competition

Auburn offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau is confident in the ability of quarterback T.J. Finley, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a competition to become the Tigers’ starting quarterback next month.

At first, that was tough for Finley to realize. While he arguably has the best shot being the quarterback who’s been at Auburn already, the Tigers aren’t just outright naming Finley their starting quarterback.

In a press conference, Kiesau spoke about Finley’s initial reaction to the Auburn quarterback competition, and how his mindset has improved over time.

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“He responded great initially. He didn’t really bat an eye. Kind of kept his stride and kept going. The funny thing was when we started practicing, and then we put another quarterback with the first team, that got him,” revealed Kiesau. “Because like, it hit home. Like oh, I’m not taking these reps. I’m not with the ones. This guy’s going to get a chance. So I think what that did though, so he was a little upset first. We had to kind of talk him through a little bit.

“Once he got through that, and he understood it’s all about competition, getting the best guy on the field, it’s going to make all of us better — he embraced it. It was a lot better. Just a shock at first, then he got better through it.”

Finley played in just nine games for the Tigers this past season, totaling 827 yards, six touchdowns and an interception. While 2021 didn’t go exactly how Finley expected it to, he’s since acknowledged his shortcomings in the past and hopes he’s allowed the opportunity to right his wrongs as the starter in 2022.

Nevertheless, Finley has impressed Kiesau throughout the summer, as he told the media during the aforementioned press conference.

“He’s been really good,” Kiesau said. “He’s kind of tabbed as the older player because he was in the system last year. So he has a different command, he has a different confidence about him when he’s at the huddle or line of scrimmage running the plays. I’m excited.

“TJ has a lot of ability and he’s a smart football player. Football is important to him. I think you’ll kind of see that on Saturdays, really do.”

Time will tell who becomes the starting quarterback for Auburn, but it’s obvious T.J. Finley is earning the respect of Eric Kiesau, at the least.