Tag: Garrett Nussmeier

Can Garrett Nussmeier fill the 1st round QB shoes at LSU in 2024?

Garrett Nussmeier has only one start on his career, but he’ll enter 2024 with high expectations.

After three years as a backup, LSU quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] will finally get his chance to be the full-time starter in 2024.

However, that job isn’t going to come without quite a bit of pressure. Nussmeier has big shoes to fill replacing Heisman winner [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], who had one of the most productive seasons we’ve seen in recent memory in 2023.

Nussmeier isn’t the only quarterback tasked with replacing a first-round pick. CBS Sports recently ranked all six first-round signal-caller replacements in college football this fall, and Nussmeier ranked second in that group behind Dillon Gabriel at Oregon as the two formed the “set up for major success” tier.

Garrett Nussmeier finally takes the helm at LSU after backing up All-American and Heisman winner Jayden Daniels. Known for his excellent arm and football IQ, he is poised for a breakout season behind one of the top offensive lines and a talented receiving corps. In limited action last season, he shone in his start against Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl, throwing for 410 yards and six touchdowns.

Nussmeier plays with a gunslinger mentality, confidently threading tight-window throws across his body. He has a quick release and delivers accurate passes when his feet are set, though his accuracy can suffer under pressure. LSU has a favorable schedule early on, which will give Nussmeier time to get super comfortable. He could be a first-round draft pick come 2025.

With questions on the defensive side of the ball, Nussmeier and the offense will likely be heavily relied on to win games yet again. He has the talent to become one of the top quarterbacks in the country this season, but with only one career start under his belt, there are certainly questions as he takes up the mantle Daniels left behind.

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LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier explains what it means to represent state of Louisiana

LSU’s new starting quarterback explains what it means to compete for this state at LSU.

Though he was born in Lake Charles, it’s hard to describe new LSU starting quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] as a quintessential Louisiana kid.

Nussmeier spent his childhood on the move following his father, Doug, a longtime college and NFL assistant who currently serves as the quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles and previously held the offensive coordinator positions at Washington, Alabama, Michigan and Florida.

The younger Nussmeier ultimately finished his high school career in Flower Mound, Texas, but speaking at LSU’s facility recently, Nussmeier was impassioned while talking about what it means to compete for LSU and the state of Louisiana.

“For me what it means to be at LSU, it means everything,” Nussmeier said. “As most of y’all know I grew up moving around a lot, so I was always around kind of the college football world, and the brand of LSU is something that’s almost undescribable. If you think about the entire population of this entire state and most kids from literally ages eight to 16 across the entire country, every single one of them at every single position that we all play, they all want to be in this room.

“They want to be in our meetings, they want to be with us when we lift, so when you approach each rep, when you approach each set, when you approach each meeting, do that **** the right way. Because one, somebody will try to replace you and two, these coaches will replace you. That’s what it means. To be here, you have this gift, this opportunity. It’s not given, this is a privilege.

“We get an opportunity to play for LSU. LSU is going to be here a long time after us, and it’s been here a long time before us. It’s what you want to do with your opportunity to be a part of this program.”

Nussmeier has spent his first three seasons mostly on the bench. His first career start came in a ReliaQuest Bowl win over Wisconsin last season, though he has seen quite a bit of game action for a backup and has attempted 219 passes in his career.

While he has to step into the shoes of a Heisman winner in [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], it’s clear Nussmeier understands the significance of the opportunity in front of him.

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How explosive will LSU’s offense be in 2024?

With Jayden Daniels and Mike Denbrock gone, how explosive will LSU be in 2024?

LSU was college football’s most explosive offense in 2023. It wasn’t that close either with 17% of the Tigers’ plays accounting for 20+ yards or a touchdown. The next best was USC at 13.5%.

LSU’s level of explosiveness came somewhat as a surprise. The unit was expected to be good returning players like [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag], but LSU made its money in 2022 by being efficient, even when it wasn’t explosive.

2023 was a different story. LSU came out firing and Daniels’ became the best downfield passer in the sport on his way to winning the Heisman trophy.

But a lot of the elements that made last fall’s offense dangerous are gone. Daniels, Nabers and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] are playing professional football while offensive coordinator [autotag]Mike Denbrock[/autotag] returned to Notre Dame. All that means LSU will have a new playcaller, a new quarterback, and new go-to receivers this fall.

Explosive plays are variable from year to year. There’s some correlation, but the metric isn’t as stable than success rate and EPA. Some of that has to do with sample size. With explosive plays, you’re only looking at a select few plays across the entirety of a season.

That can make explosiveness tough to predict, especially in LSU’s case with all the turnover on offense.

However, this offense appears capable of keeping the big-play trend going in Baton Rouge. Quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag], despite trying to shake the label at times, is a gunslinger. He’s not afraid to let it fly.

Receiver is perhaps a bigger question. Nabers led the country in 20+ yard catches while Thomas led the nation in touchdowns. That level of big play creation from a receiving duo is rare and nearly impossible to repeat. In all likelihood, LSU won’t get that level of production in 2024, but [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] and [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag] are no strangers to the long ball.

Lacy averaged 18.6 yards per catch, which ranked third in the SEC. Daniels was even better at 19.3 yards per catch, putting him top 20 nationally.

The last time [autotag]Joe Sloan[/autotag] was a full-time play-caller in 2020 and 2021, he didn’t show a propensity to take downfield shots. But that could be more related to the system and personnel at Louisiana Tech than anything else.

When he called plays in the bowl game against Wisconsin, Nussmeier threw 10 passes with 20+ air yards. Sloan has a QB he trusts to dial them up.

The most significant drop in explosiveness could be the run game. Last year, Daniels ripped off big runs from the QB position, ranking second nationally with 20 runs of 20+ yards. Nussmeier doesn’t have the same ability with his legs and LSU lost RB [autotag]Logan Diggs[/autotag], who was second on the team in 10+ yard runs.

This offense is going to score points, there’s no question about that. But the way LSU goes about doing it might be a little different. I still expect this to be one of the SEC’s top units when it comes to creating big plays, but there will be games when LSU needs to rely on the ruthless efficiency of the offensive line.

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LSU’s receiver group near the top of CBS Sports rankings for 2024

Despite the offseason losses, LSU’s receiving corps remains among the most talented in the nation.

When breaking down LSU’s roster in 2024, it’s hard to fathom receiver not being a bigger need than it actually is.

The Tigers lost two first-round prospects in [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag], who finished second in the nation in receiving yards while setting LSU’s career record, and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], who led the nation in receiving touchdowns. One would think that the need at receiver would be dire, but that isn’t the case.

LSU returns promising veterans poised for a breakout in [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] while adding transfers [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag], a 1,000-yard receiver at Liberty last fall, and [autotag]Zavion Thomas[/autotag]. [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] and [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag] are other players who could see a sharp uptick in targets.

CBS Sports didn’t include that group among the top five in the nation in its receiving corps rankings, but it did list the Tigers as an honorable mention.

It’s shaping up to be a year of change on offense for LSU with two new coordinators and a new quarterback in [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag]. But a receiver room that, while lacking experience, remains very talented should help ease the adjustment for Nussmeier.

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LSU receiver CJ Daniels named to On3’s preseason All-Transfer team

CJ Daniels joins the Tigers after turning in a 1,000-yard season at Liberty in 2023.

With two of the nation’s top receivers moving on in [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], LSU entered the offseason needing to land a proven weapon at receiver.

The Tigers did just that, bringing in Liberty transfer [autotag]CJ Daniels[/autotag], who is coming off a 1,000-yard season with the Flames. While the Tigers already have some receiver talent on the roster with players like [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag], Daniels brings some much-needed experience to the table.

While many project Lacy to see the most targets in the offense this fall, Daniels was still named to On3’s preseason All-Transfer team as one of three receivers.

With Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. off to the NFL, LSU nabbed the Liberty star to fill one of the vacancies on the perimeter. Daniels averaged a whopping 19.4 yards per catch in 2023 (third-most nationally among any WRs with at least 50 receptions) with 10 touchdowns.

Daniels managed to remain extremely productive while running a triple option-derived offense at Liberty that doesn’t see the team air the ball out a ton. In spite of that, Daniels managed to make the most of his targets last fall.

There’s a lot of change on offense in 2024 with two new coordinators and a new starting quarterback in [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag]. With that in mind, the Daniels pickup could prove to be LSU’s most impactful of the offseason.

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How likely is a leap from Garrett Nussmeier in 1st year as full-time starting quarterback?

Garrett Nussmeier is still a somewhat unknown commodity despite seeing quite a bit of game action so far.

As LSU prepares for a 2024 season that will feature a new-look roster, much of the attention has been placed on the quarterback position.

Out is 2023 Heisman winner [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], who was the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Now, it’s Garrett Nussmeier’s team, and after three seasons mostly spent as a backup with just one start, it’s his turn to take over.

Though Nussmeier only has one career start, he has quite a bit of game experience and has attempted over 200 passes. We have an idea of how good he can be, but CBS Sports still identified him as a boom-or-bust candidate in 2024.

Everyone loves a gunslinger with moxie at the quarterback position and that’s exactly what Nussmeier will bring to the table as he takes over from Heisman winner Jayden Daniels. Nussmeier waited his turn and is ready to unleash in 2024. Nussmeier plays with great confidence (he’s already 22-years-old!) and will test tight windows with what I like to call “aggressive intelligence.”

The LSU offense will look different with receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas off the NFL and a new offensive play-caller. I give Nussmeier a very good chance at making a leap and possibly even playing his way to Day 1 NFL Draft territory, but we’ve also seen the ballyhooed, long-awaited backup fall flat on his face before, so I’m keeping him out of our two loftier tiers.

Nussmeier brings a different style to the position than Daniels, and he doesn’t have the safety net of LSU’s two first-round receivers from last season. But this offense has been very productive in both years under [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag], and it stands to reason that Nussmeier could be poised for a big year.

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What tier does LSU’s quarterback situation fall into entering 2024?

Led by Garrett Nussmeier, LSU’s quarterback room looks quite a bit different in 2024.

LSU has a lot of questions on both sides of the ball as it prepares for its third campaign under coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] in 2024, but there’s one major area that’s getting a lot of attention this offseason: the quarterback position.

Gone is [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], who started the last two seasons and won the Heisman in 2023. It’s now Garrett Nussmeier’s turn after sitting on the bench but seeing quite a bit of game action as a backup the last two seasons.

To help him, LSU also brought in Vanderbilt transfer [autotag]AJ Swann[/autotag] and returns redshirt freshman Rickie Collins.

While those pieces are promising, there are questions. And when ESPN’s David Hale ranked all 134 FBS quarterback situations into tiers, LSU’s fell into Tier 8, titled “shoes to fill.”

The sample sizes are small, of course, but in his three years at LSU, Nussmeier has thrown at least 10 passes in 10 games. In the first five of those games — two of which came against FCS foes — he completed 58%, averaged 7.2 yards per pass and had three TDs and four interceptions. In the last five — a slate that includes Alabama and Georgia — he completed 63%, averaged 9.2 yards per pass and threw eight touchdowns with three picks.

Nussmeier has shown promise in his limited action with the Tigers, but only time will tell how he handles being an everyday starter for this team in 2024.

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LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier included among CBS Sports ‘second-tier stars’

Garrett Nussmeier has only made one start, but he’s seen significant game action so far in his career.

Of all the quarterbacks of teams contending for a College Football Playoff spot in 2024, there are few cases more intriguing than Garrett Nussmeier’s.

On paper, he’s largely inexperienced as he takes over the starting role. He has made just one career start, coming in last season’s ReliaQuest Bowl.

However, due to injury and other factors, he’s seen quite a bit of game action. He has attempted 219 career passes, and his play has been largely encouraging to this point. Considering he takes over an offense that produced a Heisman winner last season (albeit with some new pieces), it doesn’t take a massive leap of logic to expect that he could be one of the SEC’s top passers and a Heisman candidate.

CBS Sports included Nussmeier as one of its “second-tier stars” — players who are not currently listed in the top 100 but could find themselves there by season’s end. CBS ranks Nussmeier as the No. 133 player in the nation.

Nussmeier finally gets his time to shine after being behind one of the best quarterbacks in college football, Jayden Daniels. Nussmeier shined in his only start of his career, the ReliaQuest Bowl Game win over Wisconsin, throwing for almost 400 yards and three touchdowns but has played in multiple games over his career at LSU. Nussmeier has excellent mechanics and a big arm that can touch all the critical spots on the field. Expect some big numbers once again for LSU’s offensive attack.

It’s certainly easy to see the potential with Nussmeier, who has shown off his strong arm and gunslinging tendencies in his limited action with the team so far.

We’re still yet to see how he handles being a week-in, week-out starter, but it would not be a surprise to see him shoot up rankings like this — and draft boards — as the 2024 season progresses.

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CBS Sports looks at biggest storyline surrounding LSU football in 2024

Can LSU manage all of its losses to compete for the CFP?

When looking at LSU’s roster ahead of the 2024 season, it doesn’t take a deep dive to see what’s missing.

The Tigers lost Heisman-winning quarterback [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], two first-round receivers in [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag], as well as multiple starters from a defense that couldn’t afford to lose much production.

The cupboard is far from bare, but it’s clear that entering 2024, LSU will need some players to step up if it’s going to be in the national title picture.

Unsurprisingly, those questions are at the forefront of CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson’s mind as he breaks down the storylines surrounding this team, which he still considers to be in the top tier of the sport.

If LSU’s defense exceeds expectations and the coaching changes work out for the best, then I can see the Tigers going on a run. Garrett Nussmeier is a gifted passer, the wide receiver room is still loaded and LSU has one of the best offensive lines in the country. But if the defense hasn’t been fixed and merely meets expectations, then we’re probably going to see a repeat of the 2023 season with a handful of shootouts against the SEC’s best teams.

Patterson also listed LSU’s early season contests against USC and UCLA among the best non-conference games and included quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] among his Heisman candidates.

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LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to attend Manning Passing Academy

Garrett Nussmeier is one of nine SEC quarterbacks expected to attend the Manning Passing Academy.

LSU quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] is taking over the starting job in Baton Rouge this season after spending the last three years as a backup, and he’ll have some nice offseason instruction from legends of the game.

Nussmeier was announced as one of the expected attendees at this summer’s Manning Passing Academy by Garland Gillen of Fox 8 in New Orleans.

He joins a star-studded list of quarterbacks expected to attend, including nine other SEC quarterbacks. It will be the second year in a row LSU has had a quarterback in attendance at the Manning Passing Academy after [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag] attended last summer ahead of his Heisman campaign.

The Manning Passing Academy is an annual, four-day youth quarterback clinic held in Thibodeaux, Louisiana, featuring many of the top passers from around the country assisting the Manning family as hosts of the camp.

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