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JD PicKell predicts outcome of LSU quarterback competition

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•07/31/22•

BarkleyTruax

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LSU head coach Brian Kelly has a decision to make. Myles Brennan, Jayden Daniels or Garrett Nussmeier? According to On3’s JD PicKell’s theory, there’s a chance the Tigers could find themselves juggling the trio throughout the season under the right set of circumstances.

“I’ve told you before, I think Myles Brennan is the safest pick to start game one … but I don’t know that he’s the same guy who finishes the year at LSU,” PicKell said. “Full transparency – I think there’s a really good chance you see all three of these guys play.”

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Daniels, a former Arizona State quarterback, has the most experience of the bunch. Last season, helped lead the Sun Devils to a bowl game, throwing for 2,380 yards, 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on a 65.4 percent completion rate. His effectiveness improved as well, running for 710 yards and six touchdowns.

“Jayden Daniels just offers too much with his legs to where you don’t at least give him a shot at the job at some point,” PicKell said. “My feel on this is Garrett Nussmeier has so much momentum and has done so much for himself in this competition right now – I think by game eight, it’s going to be his job. By [the time LSU plays] Ole Miss (Oct. 22), I think Garrett Nussmeier is the quarterback for the LSU Tigers.”

Daniels could fit himself into a situational quarterback role when Kelly wants to run option plays, designed runs or trick plays while also having packages designed specifically for him on third and short-yardage situations and in the red zone. With Brennan seemingly fizzling out of the QB1 spot over the course of the late season – if PicKell is to be believed – Nussmeier can prove why he was one of the top quarterbacks out of the 2021 class.

“[Nussmeier] checks a lot of the boxes and the fact that he’s been able to continue that momentum from the spring into the summer, it sounds [he’s doing] a better job alleviating some concerns as the gunslinger,” PicKell said. “I think Garrett Nussmeier’s the guy when it’s all said and done.”