Brian Kelly updates development of Jayden Daniels, Garrett Nussmeier

Brian Kelly was encouraged by the development of LSU quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Garrett Nussmeier. 

Daniels is the expected starter after a solid season in 2022. But that doesn’t mean both quarterbacks can’t improve in the spring and Nussmeier gives a little push.

Kelly opened up about what each signal caller worked on so far and their current progress.

“You know, both of them have a list of things that they want to work on,” Kelly said. “Jayden’s been pushing the ball down the field trying to really work on quick identification and one-on-one matchups down the field. 

“Garrett is just you know, disciplined in progression reads, so each one of them has some things that (quarterbacks coach) Joe Sloan has laid out for them and in terms of what they want them to work on specifically, and that’s kind of how we’ve scripted them as well. And they’ve done a really good job of working on those things.”

In his first season at LSU after three at Arizona State, Daniels put up some of the best numbers of his career. He finished with 2,913 yards, 17 touchdowns, three interceptions, a 68.6% completion percentage, 885 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.

In his career, Daniels has 8,938 yards, 49 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, a 64.5% completion percentage, 2,173 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns.

Kelly said in March Daniels was the starter but Nussmeier would get first-team reps.

“Garrett Nussmeier, we got a chance to see him in the SEC championship game,” Kelly said. “He’s a guy that can do a lot of things.”

Nussmeier wound up being LSU’s leading passer in Atlanta, throwing for 294 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia. Serious flashes of potential were shown by the second-year quarterback against the eventual national champions — even if the SEC Championship was already out of hand.

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“We need to keep an open mind,” Kelly said. “We got to give him some work with the first team as well, as we continue to develop him because certainly, he has the tools as well. So, Jayden’s our starter but Garrett Nussmeier needs to continue to grow. You can’t grow if you’re just getting second-team reps. You’ve got to be able to give him an opportunity to go out there and show himself as well.”