LSU will get a sneak peek at the [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] era as the redshirt sophomore is set to make his first start in the ReliaQuest Bowl with [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] opting out.
Nussmeier has seen quite a bit of action, but this will be his first time running the offense for an entire game. While one may expect the team would ease him into the role, [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said Nussmeier has the “keys to the car.”
“He’s got the keys to the car going forward in ’24,” Kelly said, per On3. “The offense, he knows it well. He’ll be able to do the things that we need to do offensively, run it, throw it, do the things that are necessary to be a championship football team.”
Kelly said he’s noticed a difference in the way Nussmeier carries himself around the facility.
“I think it’s different,” Kelly said. “Going from being the backup to the starter, everything is a little bit faster. I think there’s a little bit more of a need to communicate and take the reins. When you’re a backup, you can kind of muddle your way through it a little bit, fake your way through it. There’s no faking now. You’re running it.
“He walks around the building a little bit differently, there’s no doubt. But he hasn’t played. So the game is different than practice. He’s preparing. When it’s live, and Wisconsin’s got a great scheme, they do a lot of really good things defensively, and he’ll be challenged.”
This could be an important audition for Nussmeier as he will have to compete with Vanderbilt transfer addition [autotag]AJ Swann[/autotag] in 2024. Kelly said Nussmeier has embraced the upcoming competition.
“It’s very similar to last year where Jayden came back, but we gave Nuss a fair shot at competing for that starting position,” Kelly said. “Nuss pushed it, but Jayden was better.
“We’ll have the same situation where AJ will have a chance to take that job from him. It is not a closed position. We were transparent with him. Nuss knows that, too. We’re going to be honest and open about the competition. You don’t bring in a guy who started at Vanderbilt and say, ‘Listen, you’re coming in, but you have no chance.’ That doesn’t make any sense. Nuss knew that, too.”
Nussmeier will make the first start of his career on Monday at 11 a.m. against Wisconsin.
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