Tulane University’s football team took a hit off the field Wednesday, April 2, 2025, when quarterback TJ Finley was arrested for allegedly possessing a stolen truck worth over $25,000. Finley’s been suspended indefinitely from the Green Wave, booked into jail then released, and facing a charge that’s stunned fans and teammates alike. It’s a rough twist for a Louisiana kid who’s bounced through five colleges in six years, and now his future’s up in the air as police dig deeper.
On Wednesday morning near Tulane’s Yulman Stadium. Tulane Police got a call about a Dodge Ram truck blocking a driveway—an everyday nuisance turned wild when they ran the plates. The truck didn’t match its registration—it came back as stolen from Atlanta, Georgia, not New Orleans. That’s when Finley, a 22-year-old Ponchatoula native, rolled up to move it, telling officers he’d just bought it in Atlanta, according to arrest documents nabbed by WWL-TV. Cops weren’t buying it—they arrested him on the spot, charging him with illegal possession of stolen goods valued over $25,000, a felony in Louisiana that could mean up to seven years if he’s convicted.
Finley was booked into Orleans Parish Jail Wednesday afternoon, then released later that day—no bond details yet, but court records show he’s got local attorney David Courcelle in his corner. Tulane didn’t waste time—by Wednesday night, they’d suspended him from all team activities, with Coach Jon Sumrall dropping a short statement: “We’re aware of the situation involving TJ Finley. He’s suspended from the football program pending the outcome of this case.” No extra details from the school, but the Green Wave’s spring drills, set to wrap soon, are now short a key player.
This isn’t Finley’s first brush with the law. Back in August 2022, while at Auburn, he got nabbed for trying to dodge police on a moped—charged with attempting to elude and a helmet violation. Auburn Coach Bryan Harsin let him practice the next day while it sorted out, and Finley dodged serious fallout. This time’s different—stealing a truck’s a bigger deal, and Tulane’s not playing around with the suspension.
Finley’s journey to this mess is a winding one. Born Tyler Jamal Finley in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, he was a three-star recruit who signed with LSU in 2020—started five games as a freshman, throwing for 941 yards, five touchdowns, and five picks. After one season, he hit the transfer portal—landed at Auburn for 2021 and 2022, then Texas State in 2023, where he had his best year, tossing 3,439 yards and 24 scores to lead the Bobcats to their first bowl game. Western Kentucky came next in 2024—three games, 490 yards, one touchdown—before he transferred again, joining Tulane this spring as a sixth-year senior with two years left. At 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds, he’s a big arm who’s racked up 6,128 yards and 37 touchdowns across 34 career games—but off-field stumbles keep following him.
The truck’s the mystery now. Finley told cops he bought it in Atlanta, but the paperwork—or lack of it—didn’t check out. Arrest docs say the Dodge Ram’s plates were tied to a different vehicle registered to him, hinting at a mix-up or worse. Tulane Police haven’t said much—just that they responded, ran the plates, and nabbed him when he showed up. Atlanta PD’s likely in the loop since it’s their stolen ride—a Dodge Ram’s street value can easily top $25,000, especially newer models, pushing this into felony territory.
Tulane’s reeling. Finley was pegged as a contender for QB1 after signing in December 2024—Sumrall’s staff pitched an open competition with no promises. Losing him now, even temporarily, stings a program that nabbed him as a veteran fix after Kai Horton’s exit left a gap. The Green Wave’s 2024 season ended 9-4, and spring ball was Finley’s shot to lock in for 2025—his 14-13 record as a starter across schools showed promise.
What’s next? Finley’s got a court date pending—Louisiana’s felony theft statute means jail time’s on the table if he’s guilty, though a plea or proof he bought it legit could shift things. Tulane’s suspension hangs on that outcome—Sumrall’s not budging yet. Police are still digging—did he know it was stolen, or is this a bad deal gone wrong? Atlanta’s theft report will tell more. For now, he’s out of the Green Wave’s lineup, and his sixth college chapter’s off to a rocky start.