Brian Kelly is confident Garrett Nussmeier is ready for opportunity as LSU's starting QB

LSU will have quite a few changes entering the 2024 season, but arguably the biggest comes at the quarterback position.

Jayden Daniels, the 2023 Heisman winner, has moved on. Now, after waiting three years as a backup, Garrett Nussmeier will finally get his chance to start.

While hopes are high for Nussmeier, who has impressed when given extended action, his experience is limited as he has just one career start under his belt. However, he’s had a different approach this offseason, which coach Brian Kelly compared to owning a car rather than renting it at SEC Media Days on Monday.

“When you’re the No. 2, it’s kind of like a rental,” Kelly said. “You don’t care if you ding it up or get a dent here… You’re not as careful I guess. But when you own the car, there’s a sense of pride, you’re very thoughtful in everything you do, and you can see that transformation with Garrett.

“He’s waited for this opportunity to drive this car, and nobody is going to mess with it. Not one player is going to take away the opportunity for it to be successful. He’s not afraid to call somebody out if they’re not doing it the right way… He’s waited for this chance… I use that analogy only in the sense that this is such an important thing to him that he’s dedicated himself to be the quarterback at LSU. It means so much to him.”

Nussmeier has only started one game in his career, last season’s bowl win over Wisconsin. It was a tantalizing showing, however, as he threw for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns while leading a game-winning drive.

He’s earned a bit of a reputation as a gunslinger, and while those tendencies remain, Kelly said he’s done a better job of playing within himself this offseason.

“More than anything else, I think it’s given him a sense that he can be Garrett Nussmeier, but he can be a Garrett Nussmeier that doesn’t put our football team in a negative situation,” Kelly said. “He’s got weapons, he’s got the ability to lead this football team without having to be cavalier or careless. And I think that’s what he’s learned.”

With Nussmeier and a receiving corps that lost its two top options from last season, there are certainly some questions about the offense. But the staff feels confident in what it has with Nussmeier, who has now spent three offseasons in the system.

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