Garrett

Nussmeier

Nussmeier (6’2”/203) is a fifth-year prospect who took over as LSU’s full-time starter in 2024. The son of a former NFL QB and current Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier has spent his entire life around the game and put together a successful two-year stint as a starter, throwing for 5,979-41-17 in his final two seasons while completing 65.3 percent of his passes. An abdominal injury followed Nussmeier for most of his final season and eventually sidelined him, but he bounced back at the Senior Bowl, winning MVP while going 5-for-8 passing for 57 yards and leading two scoring drives – one of which he capped with a rushing touchdown of his own. Nussmeier has good arm talent and toughness, but he’s prone to putting the ball in harm’s way and led the SEC with 12 interceptions in 2024. His accuracy takes a noticeable hit when targeting the intermediate and deep parts of the field, and his 4.1 ADOT on completed passes in his final season is among the lowest in QBs in this year’s draft class. Nussmeier is an intriguing prospect who could one day develop into a serviceable backup, but he seems unlikely to ever carve out a career as a full-time starter.

It’s an interesting list of teams. Just a few hours ago, Rapoport’s colleague, Tom Pelissero, reported that the Dolphins and Browns, among other teams, were calling around about trade-up opportunities. Per Rapoport, the potential candidates to be drafted are Miami QB Carson Beck, Penn State QB Drew Allar and LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier. NFL insider Jordan Schultz issued a similar report minutes later, linking Beck to the Cardinals, while echoing Rapoport and Pelissero’s trade-up candidates. He believes a wide receiver run is also in play.

As serious as it sounds, Pelissero says that Nussmeier “has been asymptomatic since just prior to the Senior Bowl,” but if any complications persist, Nussmeier could undergo a minimally invasive procedure to remove the cyst, which would sideline him for 2-3 weeks. Nussmeier is believed to be a Day 2 prospect in this year’s upcoming draft and struggled during his final season at LSU due to his injuries. Hopefully, this explanation as to the cause of his injury/discomfort will mitigate any concerns teams may have about his health ahead of this week’s draft.

Matthew Stafford, 38, is entrenched as the 2026 starter. Bonsignore writes that “the Rams are already planning for that inevitable transition” that will occur whenever Stafford chooses to retire. Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza is unlikely to be available when the Rams are on the clock with the 13th and 29th first-round picks. Bonsignore singles out Alabama QB Ty Simpson as an option for the Rams, while noting that they will likely take a look at Penn State QB Drew Allar, Miami QB Carson Beck, Arkansas QB Taylen Green, Georgia Tech QB Haynes King, Clemson QB Cade Klubnik and LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier at the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine.

Nussmeier (6'2/190) suffered the injury sometime this week and is not as bad as initially feared. The Athletic’s Brody Miller reports that he could even return in the next couple of days, which would be a best case scenario. He completed 29-of-57 passes for 329 yards and a two-to-two ratio in relief of 2021 starter Max Johnson who is now at Texas A&M. Jayden Daniels and Myles Brennan both saw increased reps with Daniels taking the majority of starter snaps in Nussmeier’s absence. Despite the setback, the sophomore signal caller is still very much in play to start Week 1 against Florida State.

Nussmeier (6'2/172) was thought to be in line for the start after he was listed atop the team’s depth chart on Sunday, but Koki Riley of the Daily Advertiser shared that is no longer expected to be the case, leaving LSU without any scholarship quarterbacks, and a potential mix of quarterbacks that could result in several running backs or wide receivers trying their hand at the position in what is setting up to be a potentially disgraceful finish to the 2021-2022 bowl season. The decision to not start Nussmeier likely comes down to the fact that LSU was unable to get special exemption for his redshirt status, after the freshman quarterback decided to preserve his redshirt status back in November.

Back in November, it was announced that Nussmeier (6'2/172) would be preserving his redshirt by not suiting up again for the Tigers in the 2021-2022 season. Now, with quarterback Max Johnson in the transfer portal, and quarterback Myles Brennan not expected to play in this one (return from transfer portal), Nussmeier has been listed as the QB1 on LSU’s Texas Bowl depth chart, with running back Tavion Faulk being listed as the team’s QB2. Nussmeier and LSU did request special exemption for Nussmeier to retain his redshirt status even if he were to start in the Texas Bowl, however the team has not shared on if that was granted. This season, Nussmeier completed 29-of-57 passes for 329 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Tigers.

This will put an end to Nussmeier’s (6'2/172) season in order to not loss a year of eligibility. It looks like Max Johnson will be the starter going forward while Matt O’Dowd will move to the backup role. The highly touted freshman threw for 329 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions this season. He’ll be in line to compete for the starting in the new era for the Tigers as head coach Ed Orgeron will be leaving after this season

Nussmeier (6'2/172) didn’t set the world on fire, but he was clearly better than Max Johnson who went 3-for-7 with 21 yards passing. It was a case of feast or famine for the young gunslinger. He showed excellent resolve by hitting Malik Nabors with a frozen rope on a pivotal third-and-20 in overtime to extend their first drive. However two plays later Nussmeier underthrew his receiver on a fade pattern in the end zone that got intercepted and doomed LSU’s chances at victory, with Arkansas kicking the winning field goal on the ensuing possession. Nussmeier will try to iron out the his rough edges next week against Louisiana Monroe before taking on Texas A&M in LSU’s regular season finale.

Nussmeier (6'2/172) may be just a true freshman, but he’s drawn a lot of attention and will see the field in some capacity against McNeese. “I plan on playing Garrett,” LSU HC Ed Orgeron said. “I don’t know when he’s gonna go in the game, but he’s definitely gonna play against McNeese.” Nussmeier, who was a four-star recruit, has received no shortage of praise from those around him and may prove to have the highest ceiling in LSU’s current QB room. Sophomore QB Max Johnson started LSU’s season-opener against UCLA, completing 26-of-46 passes for 330 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.