LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier ready for long-awaited opportunity to start

It’s been a bit of a winding college journey for presumptive LSU starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier .

He saw the field early, playing in four games as a true freshman in 2021. Some of that was extended action, most notably when he played all but the first two series against Arkansas after taking over for Max Johnson , finishing the game 18 of 31 with 179 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

But when Jayden Daniels arrived as a transfer in 2022, Nussmeier was relegated back to the bench. He’s appeared in 14 games over the last two seasons with most of his attempts coming as he stepped in for an injured Daniels against Georgia in the 2022 SEC Championship and again against Alabama in 2023.

Nussmeier has just one start in his career, a ReliaQuest Bowl win over Wisconsin to end last season. At the Manning Passing Academy, said he’s excited to finally get the chance to be the team’s starter after three years of waiting.

“With the dynamic, it’s changed obviously a little bit,” Nussmeier said. “But I’ve been preparing for this, I’ve been excited for this since I got to school. I got a flash of it my freshman year and then it was taken away. So I’ve just been itching to get it back ever since.

“Staying at LSU and being where I felt like I needed to be and where God had me for a reason, I’m excited. And like I said earlier, I’m just trying to put my head down and work, trust in God and let him do the rest.”

Nussmeier has big shoes to fill as he replaces Daniels, a two-year starter who won the Heisman Trophy in 2023 after leading the nation in nearly every quarterback stat. Whether Nussmeier can play at that level remains to be seen, but he seems to be mentally ready to lead this team as the starting quarterback.

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