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Marcus Benjamin @_benjaminmoney
On a scorching hot day in sunny South Florida, a quarterback at the Adidas seven on seven tournament was seen towering over his teammates and surveying the field. The QB often found the correct option with each play and hit his receivers with precision time after time.
“He’s only fifteen years old,” said EPS Blaze coach after the team from Louisiana made it to the final four of the tournament. EPS Blaze would fall to South Florida Express in their next game, but many were impressed by the young signal callers ability to read defensive coverages. He lead EPS Blaze to a tournament victory at the Mississippi Grind 7v7 this past weekend.
Today, Tyler Jamal (TJ) Finley turns sixteen and is just getting started. The quarterback of the 2020 recruiting class from Ponchatoula High School in Louisiana, stands at 6’6” and weighs 225 pounds. This is prototype size for a tight end or small forward in basketball. The tall quarterback is quickly becoming the new normal. The four star quarterback is ranked 9th in the nation among quarterbacks according to 247 Sports and is one out of six out of the top ten that stand at 6’4” or higher.
“The offensive lineman are getting bigger and bigger. There are 6’5,” 6’6” guards and tackles I can be 6’10” and still drop dimes.”
.@Epsblaze7v7 gets victory over Team Tampa as @tj_finley1 connects with @masepierce for one handed snatch! @FootballHotbed pic.twitter.com/mlshCOBVKh
— Marcus Benjamin (@_BenjaminMoney) March 11, 2018
At six years old a young TJ stood at 5’4” and could throw the ball 40 yards and it was at that time playing quarterback became a real reality for the budding star. In Pee Wee Football he played for the Hammond Gators in Louisiana and already drew comparisons to Cam Newton. Reading defenses is a true passion that started at that young age for Finley and he feels it is his best attribute as a quarterback.
“My decision making sets me apart as a quarterback because somebody is always open. I’ve been studying defenses since I was seven years old and continue to try to increase my knowledge on defenses. Another thing that helps me is my poise in the pocket, I know when to escape, slide left, slide right and I have the arm strength to get it there.”
In this day of modern football, quarterbacks are not created equal. The tallest quarterback in the NFL right now is Brock Osweiler who stands at 6’8” in contrast to Russell Wilson who is the shortest at 5’11.” Super Bowl winning quarterback Joe Flacco is 6’6” and Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles of the Philadelphia Eagles stands at 6’6” as well. At this rate Finley could sprout up to 6’10” if he makes it on an NFL team in about seven or eight years from today and would be one of the first to do so. Lamar Jackson, who is set to be drafted by an NFL team in about a month, has been asked to change positions to wide receiver based on his athletic ability and size. Jackson, at 6’3” 205 pounds won the Heisman trophy and is not changing his position despite what NFL scouts may say.
“Stats speak for themselves. He throws the ball just as good as everybody else. I’m glad he didn’t run the 40 at the NFL combine because that will make teams focus on his athleticism. I’m a quarterback, so let me focus on being a quarterback. If you don’t want me as quarterback then I won’t get drafted by your team.”
Basketball is naturally a sport Finley excels in addition to football. He plays basketball at his high school now at shooting guard and small forward and he went to the Future150 camp and ranked top 50 in his class two years ago.
“I can shoot from half court without jumping. If football doesn’t work out I can always go back to basketball.”
His strong family base has molded him into the young man he is today. He volunteers to feed the homeless with his mother Shannon who is a minister, every other month and credits her for his smarts. He is currently on track to graduate high school a semester early with a 3.5 GPA and is looking to do pre-law in college. His younger brother Kody is 14 years young and is 6’2” and is looking to play basketball and is one of the top players of the 2022 class. His main mentor is his father David.
“He tells me how to get through stuff and makes sure I’m prayed up and makes sure I’m putting God before everything. My dad played baseball so he understands the mechanics I need to play quarterback. He trains me everyday after practice and before I go to school.”
Finley will compete at The Opening in Dallas April 29th in hopes to be part of the Elite 11. The Elite 11 is heralded as one of the nations premier quarterback competitions with previous participants such as Matthew Stafford, Andrew Luck, Tyrod Taylor and Jameis Winston. He is also looking to compete at the Manning Passing Academy.
Finley plans to make visits to LSU, Louisville, Ole Miss and Alabama during the Spring. Home is where is heart is as far as favorites are concerned but Finley is more focused on becoming a better quarterback.
“I am happy to be ranked number nine in the country right now but I want to be at least top five before this season starts and eventually number one.”
Click here for TJ Finley Game Tape
