What to expect from LSU if Garrett Nussmeier starts vs. Florida

Last week, LSU fans saw Jayden Daniels leave the game against Alabama with what Brian Kelly called a head injury. It was a tough sight for fans who watched Daniels emerge as one of the nation’s most electric quarterbacks this year, and the Tigers wound up losing the game 42-28.

With Daniels’ status for this week’s game against Florida in question, although he’s preparing to practice this week, LSU could turn to Garrett Nussmeier under center. That could change the complexion of the Tigers’ offense considering Daniels leads the nation with 386.2 yards of offense per game — 32 more than the next-closest player.

Still, according to The Bengal Tiger’s Shea Dixon, LSU should be comfortable with Nussmeier’s ability to run the show.

“Jayden Daniels leads the nation in total yardage and in a large part, not just because he’s a great passer, but he has rushed for the second most yards by any quarterback in the country behind BC’s Thomas Castellanos,” Dixon told Andy Staples on Andy Staples On3. “It’s one of those things where that dual-threat ability changes LSU’s offense completely and makes them, currently still, the No. 1 offense in college football.

“When Nussmeier is out there, he’s not going to be running it all over the field. So you lean more on the ground game with Logan Diggs and Co., but they trust Nussmeier to throw the football, and we’ve seen it. He can sling it. The deep ball is kind of the sexy thing Nussmeier gets out there and does that LSU fans love, but Jayden’s been very good at that this year. … I don’t think they’ll miss a beat there.”

Nussmeier has been LSU’s backup quarterback for the last three years and sat behind Daniels last season after he transferred from Arizona State. In 16 games over his career — including five appearances this year — Nussmeier has 1,325 yards and eight touchdowns, as well as six interceptions.

The one thing he hasn’t done, though, is start a game. That made him an intriguing prospect if he decided to enter the transfer portal last year considering he’d have his suitors. Ultimately, though, Nussmeier opted to stay in Baton Rouge.

As a result, Dixon said, he’s ready for the moment.

“It’s more probably about, is Nussmeier rattled by the moment? Or is he good to go?” Dixon said. “And while he doesn’t have any college starts, remember, he’s in Year 3. He grew up with a dad who coached college and NFL, and he’s talked about it plenty. He said, I’ve spent my whole life in locker rooms. Like, I’m ready for these moments.

“He stayed at LSU for a reason. A lot of teams would have taken him out of the portal a year ago. He didn’t go in. So, he knew he was waiting behind Jayden Daniels. Next year. he would take the reins. But at this moment ever came where Jayden got banged up, they fully trusted him to go out there and execute with this offense. I would think that they have full faith in Garrett Nussmeier for being out there. The product will look different, but I think that they can still get some nice execution out of it.”