Brian Kelly praises LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier, explains where he still needs to improve

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier enters his first season as a full-time starter in 2024, and the Tigers’ season-opener against USC on Sept. 1 will mark just the second start of his career.

There’s a lot of optimism about Nussmeier, but inexperience is a concern, and following LSU’s scrimmage on Saturday, Brian Kelly explained that while he’s pleased overall with Nussmeier’s progress, he’s still improving.

Kelly said specifically that Nussmeier needs to work on his decision-making under pressure.

“I thought he did some pretty good things,” Kelly said. “There were a couple of things in pressures that, he thinks he’s got 52 timeouts. He takes timeouts when he wants to take a timeout, I think he’s got to work through a couple of things out there where, decision-making relative to some pressure looks that I want him to get better at.

“But I thought his process was really good today. He stayed within himself, he looked under control in the situations that we created for him today. And I think when he does that and his drop is in rhythm, he’s really good. So I thought we saw a good version of him, I think there’s a better version of him out there.”

Nussmeier has big shoes to fill as he replaces a Heisman winner in Jayden Daniels, but LSU hopes he can keep the offense playing at an elite caliber.

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