Media by Associated Press – Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley (1) scrambles for yardage during the A-Day NCAA college spring football game at Jordan-Hare Stadium, Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Auburn football coach Bryan Harsin was already feeling the pressure entering this season. Harsin was nearly fired after the Tigers finished 7-6 last season. The last thing Harsin needed was for one of his key contributors to find trouble off the field.
Auburn quarterback T.J. Finley was arrested Thursday and charged with attempting to elude the police. Finley was observed not wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle and allegedly fled from police twice.
Finley passed for 826 yards and six touchdowns last season. While he didn’t begin the year as the starter, Finley started the last couple of games for the Tigers in 2021, including their appearance in the Birmingham Bowl. Harsin hasn’t officially named a starter at quarterback, and Finley is one of several players in the hunt.
It is worth noting Finley is the first player to sign a NIL deal with Amazon.
If you ain’t first, your last
Alabama reached the College Football Playoff championship game last season after winning the SEC. The Crimson Tide was unable to finish the job, losing to rival Georgia in the title game. For a program that has been on a sustained run of success like Alabama has, there was a question of what to do with the runner-up trophy.
The second-place trophy sits in the team cafeteria and irritates offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr. to look at. Ekiyor says it reminds Alabama of what it didn’t accomplish and is more of a participation trophy. The Crimson Tide finished last season 13-2.
Alabama has won national championships in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020 under coach Nick Saban.
Show me the money
The Pac-12 has partnered with Twitter, Opendorse, and Tempus Ex Machina to allow players to monetize their highlights. Tempus Ex Machina will provide players with a highlight reel following each game. Once a player Tweets the highlights out, Twitter will populate the video with advertising.
The advertisements that were sold will be how the player gets paid. If a player posts two highlights per week, whether the team wins or loses, they will be paid $1,250 and potentially a percentage of the team’s revenue.
Staying in the Sunshine State
Four-star running back Samuel Singelton decided to stay in his home state of Florida, spurning an offer from Penn State to sign with Florida State. Singelton’s only official visit was to the Seminoles, but he did head to State College, Pa., to see what the Nittany Lions had to offer.
Singleton, who is a native of Orange Park, Fla., averaged 6.4 yards per carry as a junior.
Former Georgia player passes away
Lars Tate took up the mantle of Georgia’s top running back in the 1980s and would later carry his success into the pros. Tate, 56, died last Tuesday after being diagnosed with throat cancer.
Tate led the Bulldogs in rushing during the 1986 and 1987 seasons. He finished his career with 3,107 yards, which is the sixth-most in Georgia history.
Tate, a second-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1988, would have a short pro career. Tate rushed for 1,056 yards and 15 touchdowns in two seasons with the Buccaneers. After being released by Tampa Bay, he would play one season in Chicago before falling out of ht league.
Keep up with your latest NCAAF news coverage and betting pick previews at NJSportsbookReview.com.