Ed Orgeron assesses Max Johnson, gives advice to Garrett Nussmeier

There continues to be a lot of talk surrounding LSU’s quarterback room. After freshman Garrett Nussmeier decided that he didn’t want to redshirt, he saw a lot of action in LSU’s loss to Arkansas. Max Johnson started the game, but Nussmeier entered and got the majority of the snaps from there in LSU’s offense.

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron assessed the play of Johnson on Monday, and later provided some advice on what he would do if he were Nussmeier as far as a redshirt is concerned.

“I like Garrett, I think he’s a good player like Max is a good player,” Orgeron said. “I don’t feel like Garrett beat Max out, I don’t think that Max deserves to be benched. Gave him a chance to beat him out although I think he’s a very good player. The touchdown play was a phenomenal play but we were also minus three in the turnover ratio. We only scored seven points. So Max is still our starter.”

While Johnson will start for LSU, Nussmeier still gets to choose if he wants to redshirt

There was a lot of talk last week about Nussmeier and his father not wanting to worry about the redshirt year. They wanted Nussmeier to be on the field. Nussmeier got his wish against Arkansas. In the loss, he completed 18 of his 31 passes for 179 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Meanwhile, Johnson completed three of his six passes for 21 yards.

After playing Nussmeier against Arkansas, he has now played in four games this season. That means that he can’t play in another game without burning his redshirt year. With Orgeron backing Johnson as LSU’s starting quarterback, Nussmeier will again have to make a decision on his redshirt year.

“It’s going to be up to Garrett and his father if they want a redshirt or they want to play in a backup role and perhaps again go in the game,” Orgeron said. “And if he plays better, keep him in. But if I were him, I’d redshirt but. There’s only two games left, but that’s not my decision.

“And let me say this again, some guys wrote some stuff that I really didn’t like. I mean I’m giving them the option to redshirt or not and that’s what I do for everybody. Now who plays in this football game, I decide that.”

LSU hosts UL Monroe and Texas A&M in the final two weeks of the regular season. The Tigers are 4-6 on the season, meaning they need to win both games to earn bowl eligibility.