Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has a narrative to live up to. He’s returning as a starting QB at LSU which means he should win the Heisman Trophy. I say that tongue-in-cheek, but that will be the talk all summer heading into the 2025 season.
For Nussmeier to become the third consecutive returning starting quarterback at LSU to win the Heisman, he needs to begin to develop that chemistry now, with the new passing threats in LSU’s offense.
“He’s got some guys that certainly provide him with a lot of different options from Nic Anderson (Oklahoma transfer) with his size, to Barian Brown (Kentucky) with the vertical threat, getting a relationship with Chris Hilton, who he didn’t get a lot of work with last year,” coach Brian Kelly said.
Wednesday was the first day that the media was allowed to watch the LSU football team go through spring drills.
The first team skill players working with Nussmeier were receivers Hilton, Aaron Anderson and Zavion Thomas, along with tight end Trey’Dez Green.
The new offensive line was Tyree Adams, Paul Mubenga, DJ Chester, Bo Bordelon and Weston Davis.
Virginia Tech transfer Braelin Moore is expected to start at center when the new season begins. But on Wednesday Moore was working with the second-team offensive line, along with guards Soloman Thomas and Coren Echols and tackles Carius Curne and Ethan Calloway.
Kaleb Jackson is the second-string running back.
Also working out at running back is the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year and the nation’s top-rated running back Harlem Berry. The former St. Martin’s star rushed for 2,178 yards and 41 touchdowns as a senior last year.
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Kelly has been impressed with Berry’s instincts.
“He’s got to keep building in the weight room, he’s got to build a code of armor, he’s got to get stronger, but it’s a nice thing to see when you don’t have to coach every aspect of a particular player and that’s Harlem Berry,” Kelly said.
On defense, three key players for the 2025 season were not in pads. Whit Weeks, Harold Perkins and Jacobian Guillory continue to recover from injuries, but Kelly said they will be ready when offseason conditioning drills begin June 1st.