Cal Football: Bears Get Commitment From NC State Transfer Quarterback

Ben Finley, a grad transfer with three years' eligibility, could compete with Sam Jackson V.

Ben Finley, a redshirt sophomore who took over as North Carolina State’s starting quarterback the final two games of 2022, confirmed Wednesday night he will transfer to Cal.

Ben Finley / Twitter

The website College Football Portal first reported on Wednesday that according to sources, Finley “is heading to Cal. Announcement coming soon.”

Twitter

Sophomore transfer Sam Jackson V from TCU won the Bears’ starting quarterback job during spring ball, impressing with his athleticism as a dual-threat player at the position.

But coach Justin Wilcox and new offensive coordinator Jake Spavital both said the Bears hoped to land a more veteran player out of the transfer portal to provide depth and experience.

Finley, a 6-foot-3, 205-pounder from Phoenix, graduated in December with a degree in business administration but has three years’ eligibility remaining.

He played sparingly his first two seasons and with the additional COVID year athletes received, he was considered a redshirt freshman last fall.

Finley completed 65 of 125 passes for 741 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions in three games last season. All of that happened over the Wolfpack’s final three games, where he came off the bench in a loss to Louisville and started at North Carolina and vs. Maryland in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

NC State lost 16-12 to Maryland, but Finley showed promise against rival and 17th-ranked UNC, completing 27 of 40 attempts for 271 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in a 30-27 double-overtime victory.

He threw what could have been the game-winning touchdown with 3:54 left in regulation, but the Tar Heels rallied to tie the game on the final play of the fourth quarter, forcing overtime.

Over three seasons, Finley completed 83 or 152 passes (54.6 percent) for 912 yards with four TDs and five interceptions.

He is the younger brother of Ryan Finley, a former three-year starter at NC State, who finished his career second in program history with 10,505 passing yards and fourth with 60 career TD passes.

At Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Finley played four seasons of varsity football, passing for 8,272 yards and 74 touchdowns. He also was the team’s placekicker as a junior and senior, connecting on 12 of 18 field-goal attempts and 65 of 69 PATs.

Finley becomes the team’s third scholarship quarterback, along with Jackson and redshirt freshman Fernando Mendoza.

Cover photo of Ben Finley by Bob Donnan, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo