JD PicKell: Bryan Harsin is leaning toward TJ Finley

Auburn‘s quarterback battle is quickly drawing to its conclusion as the 2022 college football season rears its head, and On3’s JD PicKell has a hunch that TJ Finley will end up beating out Zach Calzada and Robby Ashford for the role of Tigers’ starting quarterback.

“I think right now, the lean is TJ Finley because, if you remember correctly, he is the most experienced guy in this group,” PicKell said. “Zach Calzada, If he were to go out there, just do a pro day, have him go out there in shorts, go through some cone drills, throw routes on air throw to stationary targets. Sounds like he’s the best passer just purely off of what God gave him.

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“[Calzada is] probably the most accurate and best passer. Now the intangibles – I don’t want to speculate too much on what this means – but the intangibles, it sounds like have been a place where he has fallen short, and TJ Finley has hit it out of the park. Bryan Harsin in his press conference hasn’t named the starter, obviously, it is why we’re having this conversation right now, but he did continue to bring up TJ Finley when talking about things that he’s looking forward to quarterback.”

Finley came in as Auburn’s starter for the final three games of the 2021 season after former quarterback Bo Nix sustained an ankle injury that required surgery.

The Tigers went 0-3 with Finley at the helm, but never lost a game by more than one score, forcing No. 3 Alabama into a four-overtime Iron Bowl thriller in the regular season finale before dropping the Birmingham Bowl to No.24 Houston 17-13. He would go on to finish last season with 827 passing yards, six touchdowns and one interception. 

Harsin wasn’t able to tap into Finley’s potential during his abbreviated role last season, but even if he chooses another quarterback, Harsin won’t be taking his ultimate decision lightly. Putting his team in the best position to win, in turn, keeps his job secure and allows Auburn some stability at the most crucial position on the football field.

“He’s a coach on the field, he’s a manager of his offense,” PicKell said. “He knows how to get [Auburn] set and get [Auburn] going to the place they need to get to. So right now, the lean is TJ Finley.”