Bryan Harsin provides further insight on how TJ Finley won starting job

Auburn coach Bryan Harsin made it official this week when he named TJ Finley as the Tigers’ starting quarterback. Wednesday, Harsin opened up about what separated Finley during the competition.

Finley served as the primary backup to Bo Nix last season, but stepped in when Nix suffered an injury. He completed 54.7% of his passes while throwing for 827 yards and six touchdowns in his first year following his transfer from LSU.

Now, Nix is at Oregon, and Finley is succeeding him as the starter on The Plains. Throughout the summer and into training camp, Harsin said Finley cut down on the mistakes he made last season, and that’s why he ended up winning the starting job.

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“The improvements that needed to be made from last year, he’s been able to do that and I think the competition really brought out the best in him,” Harsin said on The Paul Finebaum Show. “Robby Ashford’s continued to improve and get better, Zach Calzada, who’s played, came in here and provided a lot of push at that position. And all those guys are still improving and getting better. Then, our freshman, Holden [Geriner], having a chance to get in here, as well. So, I think just that alone really helped TJ to push himself to keep improving.

“I’ve said it before. I think TJ has got a great understanding of what we’re doing. He’s, conceptually, very sharp when it comes to football and can pick things up quickly and that’s just carried over day after day to where he is right now. I’m excited about him going into this game and just what he’s done from January to get to where he’s at right now.”

Finley beat out Texas A&M transfer Zach Calzada and Oregon transfer Robby Ashford for the starting job. He’ll be under center when Auburn starts the 2021 season on Saturday against Mercer.