QBRyan Finley
North Carolina State — ACC
- Height: 6-4
- Weight: 212
- Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
- Age: 24
SENIOR (2018):
• A first-team All-ACC performer.
• A finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, given by the NFF to the nation’s top scholar-athete. He was honored at a banquet in New York City in early December.
• Ranks second in school history only to four-year starter Philip Rivers in career passing yards with 10,505. That is the No. 3 mark in ACC history while his 269.4 passing yards per game ranks fourth in the ACC career record books.
• Ranks second in NC State history, fifth in ACC history, in total offense with 10,814 yards.
• Passed for 3,928 yards in 2018- his third straight season crossing the 3,000-yard passing mark. That is the third-best single-season total in school history.
• Only the second QB in school history to post three 3,000+ yard seasons (Rivers had three in his four-year career) and the fifth in ACC history.
• Had 18 career 300-yard games - 2nd in school history to Rivers (19) and third in ACC history.
• Led the ACC and ranked sixth in the FBS in passing yards per game (302.2).
• Led the ACC and ranks 8th in the FBS in total offense per game (303.8)
• Posts the top career completion percentage in school history (.644) - his .674 mark this season led the ACC and ranked 10th in the FBS.
• Posted a 25-14 record as NC State’s starting QB - the fourth-best mark in school history for QBs with 25+ starts.
• Ranks fourth in school history in career touchdowns (60).
• A team captain for 2018.
• Was on the preseason watch lists for the O’Brien, Maxwell, Unitas and Manning Awards, as well as the Walter Camp Player of the Year - a finalist for the Unitas and semifinalist for the O’Brien.
• Named a 2018 “player to watch” by the Touchdown Club of Columbus.
• Only two returning Power 5 quarterbacks in 2018 had more passing yards than Finley’s 3,518 tally in 2017 - a mark that ranked fourth in NC State history.
• Only returning QB nationally in 2018 who compiled 3,500+ passing yards, 20+ total touchdowns, less than eight turnovers and a completion percentage higher than 65% last season. The only other signal caller to reach those marks in 2017 was Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 draft pick Baker Mayfield.
• Only player in the Power 5 who already had a master’s degree prior to the 2018 season. He also has a graduate certification.
• An academic all-district performer in 2018.
JUNIOR (2017):
• Boasted the longest streak of pass attempts without an interception in the FBS with 339. He had not thrown a pick since the Miami game in 2016 before throwing one vs. Notre Dame.
• That was second-longest streak in school and ACC history. Only Russell WIlson had more (379) and his streak is the NCAA record.
• Ranked 10th in the Power 5, 2nd in the ACC, in passing yards with 3,518 - the fourth-best single-season mark in school history.
• Boasted the second-best completion percentage in the ACC (10th in the Power 5) with a .651 mark. That was the third-best single-season mark in school history.
• One of just five finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award - the only ACC quarterback to make that list.
• Named the ACC Offensive Back of the Week for his performance against Louisville, he was also named a Manning Award Star of the Week.
• Ranked sixth in the Power 5, second in the ACC, in completions per game (24.0).
• Ranked 14th in the P5 in total offense: 285.5 yards per game.
• His 3,712 yards of total offense was the fourth-best single-season mark in school history, second-best by a Wolfpack junior.
• His 312 completions were the most ever by a Wolfpack junior, his 3,518 yards and 479 attempts were second-highest.
• Posted the second-best single-season interception avoidance mark in school history at 1.25.
• Posted the best yards per completion mark of his career in the win over No. 17 Louisville - 18.35 yards on 20 completions.
• Named a Manning Award Star of the Week, a Davey O’Brien “Great 8” performer and a Taxslayer Bowl Player of the Week for his performance vs. FSU.
• Set a school record for pass completions (45) in the opener vs. South Carolina. His 64 attempts ranked 2nd all-time in school history while his 415 yards was the No. 11 mark.
• First Pack QB to open the season with back to back 300-yard passing games since Philip Rivers in 2003.
• Co-recipient of the team’s Torry Holt Award for offensive MVP.
SOPHOMORE (2016):
• Named to the Academic All-ACC team for his performance last season. He earned a 3.889 GPA while pursuing a Master’s degree in liberal arts.
• Threw for 3,059 yards in 2016, the sixth-best mark in school history and the highest mark ever for a Wolfpack sophomore.
AS A RS - SOPHOMORE (2016):
• Threw for 3,059 yards in 2016, the sixth-best mark in school history and the highest mark ever for a Wolfpack sophomore.
• 18 TD passes in 2016 tied as the 11th-best single-season mark in school history and the third-best total ever for a sophomore.
• Turned in 3,153 yards of total offense in 2016 - the seventh-best single-season mark in school history.
• Led the the nation completion percentage through the first few games.
• No NC State QB had more attempts as a starter before throwing his first INT (139). His INT avoidance mark of 1.99 in 2016 was the sixth-best single-season mark in school history and would rank second on the career list.
• Posted the seventh-best passing efficiency mark in school history last season: 135.16.
• Led the Wolfpack to two scores in the win over William & Mary while posting the best completion pct. (.809) for an NC State QB in his debut as a starter.
• Transferred from Boise State in the summer of 2016 after earning his degree in three years. Was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA.
SOPHOMORE (2015) AT BOISE STATE:
• Appeared in three games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury against Idaho State.
• Went 46-for-70 for 485 yards and a touchdown with four interceptions.
• In first career start vs. Washington, was 16-for-26 for 129 yds. and an INT.
• Threw his first touchdown pass of the season at BYU, going 25-for-38 for a career-best 297 yards.
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2014) AT BOISE STATE:
• Appeared in five games, completing 12-of-27 for 161 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
• Came off the bench in the third quarter at Air Force, going 12-for-25 for 161 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
• Saw action at Wyoming, did not attempt a pass but rushed 2-15 yards.
REDSHIRT (2013) AT BOISE STATE:
• Redshirted the season.
HIGH SCHOOL:
• Helped lead coach Donnie Yantis’ team to the state playoffs as a senior.
• Honors: Named Arizona Division III, Section III East Co-Offensive Player of the Year. The 2012 Arizona Cardinals Player of the Year across all divisions. A first-team Arizona Republic and Arizona Football Coaches’ Association all-state choice. NFF Scholar-Athlete of the Year and first-team QB in Arizona. One of six finalists for the Ed Doherty Award, given to the top player in Arizona high school football. One of 33 finalists for the NFF High School National Scholar-Athlete Award.
• Senior Stats: Completed 270-of-424 passes, leading the state of Arizona with 3,442 yards. Also threw 35 touchdowns (vs. eight interceptions(, and rushed 96-282 yards and four scores.
• Junior Stats: Completed 239-of-381 passes for 2,911 yards, 25 TDs, 7 INTs.
• Also a standout on the hardwood, earned second-team all-state honors (Division II) and helped lead Paradise Valley to the 2012-13 state title.
PERSONAL:
• Major: Graduated magna cum laude in psychology from Boise State in 2016. Earned a Master’s in Liberal Studies and a graduate certificate from NC State in 2018.
• Transferred from Boise State in the summer of 2016 after earning his degree in three years. Was granted a sixth year of eligibility.
• Mother, Robin, played tennis at St. Olaf College in Minnesota while father, Pat, played baseball and football there.
• Played roller hockey for 10 years and was on Team USA. In high school, played football, basketball, tennis and long jumped.
• A counselor at the Manning Passing Academy in the summer of 2018.