Garrett Nussmeier is the unquestioned leader of this 2025 LSU football team. So, it was not a surprise when LSU announced on Sunday morning that fifth year senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier would wear the number 18 jersey.
The awarding of the number 18 jersey started after LSU won the national championship in 2003. Matt Mauck wore number 18 that season and wanted to pass the jersey number down to a team leader with great character.
Mauck gave the jersey number to freshman running back Jacob Hester who led LSU to a national title in 2007. Hester handed the jersey down to tight end Richard Dickinson and the tradition has been ongoing ever since.
Sometimes, the number 18 has been given to an offensive and defensive player, but there’s no question who should be number 18 this year and that’s Nussmeier who returned for a fifth season to win a championship.
Starting center Braelin Moore quickly found out who was the leader of LSU when met with Nussmeier during his recruiting visit as he was looking for his next school after starting the last two seasons at Virginia Tech.
“Great leader, you love to play with dudes like that, and we are going to protect him,” Moore said.
Defensive end Jack Plyburn calls Nussmeier the ultimate competitor.
“That guy competes in everything, whether we are on the golf course, playing ping pong, that dude wants to compete, if you want to be a successful leader, you have to be a true competitor, that guy is a competitor, he is a gamer,” Plyburn said.
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Receiver Zavion Thomas says not only does Nussmeier command the huddle, but the locker room as well.
“When he talks everybody is quiet, when Nuss is mad it’s time to get going,” Thomas said.
The Tigers get the season going this Saturday against Clemson.