Evaluating the ceiling for LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier in Year 1 as QB1

Garrett Nussmeier is finally getting his shot as the starter at LSU in his fourth year with the program. It has been a long time coming for him as a Tiger and, according to On3’s Andy Staples, is something that everyone in Baton Rouge should be excited for.

Staples spoke about Nussmeier’s ceiling as LSU’s QB1 during a mailbag episode of his show on Thursday. First and foremost, he started by crediting him for sticking it out at his school and not just running to the transfer portal. That certainly says a lot about him and about what the team thought of him as an eventual starter.

“Listen, in this era of college football? The fact that this man has hung out as long as he has at LSU and ascended to the starting job tells you they are highly confident in Garrett Nussmeier,” Staples said. “Obviously, I think the feeling was all along that Garrett Nussmeier could be a great quarterback. If Jayden Daniels hadn’t developed the way he had, Nussmeier probably already would have been LSU’s starter.”

Nussmeier has completed 129 of his 219 overall attempts (58.9%) in his 18 career appearances. Those have gone for 1,720 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in a backup role.

In his last outing this past fall, Nussmeier made his first start in place of Daniels in a ReliaQuest Bowl win over Wisconsin. He threw for 395 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception on 68.9% completion against the Badgers during the 35-31 victory in Tampa.

Now, with him likely to be the full-time starting quarterback, the expectation for Nussmeier is to have the Tigers in contention. That just comes with the job based on recent play at that position for their team.

Still, as Staples noted, it might not be on him if they don’t if the defense remains an issue.

“The fact that they made sure he stayed? That they have him and that he was taken care of and shown that he was appreciated? I think they feel very confident that Garrett Nussmeier can lead LSU to competitiveness in the SEC. Possibly an SEC title, possibly a national title,” said Staples. “It’s LSU. Those are the expectations.

“Now, what happens on defense is probably going to have more to do with whether they achieve those goals. So it’s more up to Blake Baker, the new defensive staff, and then all the players defensively – the young guys moving into new roles, guys that they’ve gotten out of the transfer portal,” Staples continued. “That is probably the bigger deal for LSU.”

Any quarterback in his first starting opportunities can come with its good and its bad. Even so, that isn’t taking away from the energy around Nussmeier from the fans, media like Staples, and the program heading into next season.

“I’m not worried about Garrett Nussmeier,” Staples said. “I think, if they felt like there was any doubt about Garrett Nussmeier? He would have already been told that you can transfer somewhere else, don’t worry about it. But they didn’t. They said, ‘Hey, we like you. Please stay here. Please be our quarterback.'”