After mostly watching during his first three seasons at LSU, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier finally gets a chance to start when the Tigers face Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on January 1st in Tampa Bay.
2020 was the last time Nussmeier started a football game and that was at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas.
“I’m going to be focused not being caught up in the moment,” said Nussmeier. “This is what I love to do, I love to play the sport of football, I love representing this university and getting the opportunity to do so is going to be fun.”
Nussmeier has appeared in 17 games during his LSU career. He played the second half of the 2022 SEC Championship game because of an injury to Jayden Daniels. He played nearly the entire game as a freshman in 2021 in a loss to Arkansas.
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Nussmeier says he's a more mature player now and gives a lot of credit to quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan
“He’s still the same player, he’s a more experienced player,” said Nussmeier who went third person. “He’s learned how to take care of the football. He’s learned when to stretch it down the field and when not to stretch down the field.
“He’s learned most importantly how to run the offense and lead it and take over and put my foot down if I think something is right and I’m going to stand on it.
“And I think that is the best thing for me is building that confidence in this building and building the confidence in this offense.”
During his LSU career, Nussmeier has thrown 174 passes, completing 56% for 1,325 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions. He's been known as a gunslinger, but Nussmeier says he's a smart gunslinger. The six-foot-two, 205 pounder also says he can make plays with his legs.
During the offseason, he'll battle with Vanderbilt transfer AJ Swann for starting quarterback in 2024. Nussmeier says he doesn't feel pressure that he has to make a statement against the Badgers.
“I know what I’m capable of, I know what I’m going to do here. I’m just going to trust my coaching, trust my teammates, and do what I’m told to do and lead the offense, I wouldn’t say I’m trying to make a statement or anything like that.
“I’ve been here and worked and I’m excited,” said Nussmeier.
While Jayden Daniels was fun to watch during his two seasons as a starter, I think LSU fans are excited to see what Nussmeier can do.