Garrett Nussmeier reacts to being compared to Baker Mayfield

The top quarterbacks in college football spent the weekend in Thibodaux, LA, participating in the 2024 Manning Passing Academy. One quarterback in particular, the LSU Tigers‘ Garrett Nussmeier, did not have to travel far to participate in the annual affair.

While at the Manning Passing Academy, the Tigers’ starting quarterback for the upcoming season found himself answering questions and receiving a unique comparison. At one point during an interview, Nussmeier found himself comparing himself to former star quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners Baker Mayfield. And to that comparison, he had this to say.

“Look, I’ve never been told that before. But I really appreciate you for saying that because I love Baker Mayfield and the way he plays,” said Nussmeier. “I’ve always felt like I kind of had a little Baker Mayfield in me, outside of hopefully of a couple of the antics. But he’s an absolute dog. And I’ve always enjoyed watching him. Hopefully, I do play a little bit like Baker Mayfield; he was unreal.”

Mayfield had an impressive collegiate career, to say the least, despite not having the storybook beginning to match its ending. Mayfield was a former walk-on quarterback at Texas Tech. From there, he earned the starting position in year one, becoming the first player in FBS history to start a season opener as a walk-on freshman. From there, he transferred to Oklahoma, where he spent the next three years of his collegiate career. In Mayfield’s last season leading the Sooners, he would rack up a number of awards, including the 2017 Heisman Trophy, following three straight 11-2 seasons at Oklahoma.

Nussmeier appears to be more than appreciative of the comparison when it comes to on-the-field performance. If he can put together a performance similar to Mayfield’s, particularly in 2017, LSU could very well find itself in this year’s College Football Playoff field. And Nussmeier could see himself joining Mayfield, along with Joe Burrow and this year’s No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, Jayden Daniels, as a Heisman Trophy winner.

Nussmeier on being the starter at LSU: ‘Getting to live that dream is amazing’

LSU has had some phenomenal quarterback play in recent years, enough to produce a pair of Heisman Trophy winners. So Nussmeier will have no easy task taking over the reins. He got to watch Daniels up close a year ago, picking up all the little things that made Daniels one of the best quarterbacks in the game.

Importantly, he’s ready to take on the mantle of leadership.

“It means everything to get to represent this university, to get to represent this state,” Nussmeier told On3’s Shea Dixon at the Manning Passing Academy. “Being the quarterback of LSU is a dream of mine since I was a kid. So getting to live that dream is amazing. I feel extremely blessed and I think God each and every day when I wake up that this is the life I get to live right now.”

Garrett Nussmeier has certainly looked the part in the limited action he’s seen over the last three years. Moreover, he’s got some big-game experience.

He’s been involved in an overtime contest against Arkansas and an SEC Championship Game against Georgia. He’s also had the full reins in a bowl game, getting the nod in a thoroughly impressive 35-31 win over Wisconsin last season.