LSU names new starting quarterback day after Myles Brennan injury

One day after LSU announced Myles Brennan severely injured his left arm and had to undergo surgery, the Tigers have already moved on to a new starting quarterback. Ed Orgeron announced Tuesday that LSU will start sophomore Max Johnson at quarterback for the upcoming 2021 season. The news officially puts an end to the Tigers quarterback competition, which was supposed to stretch throughout preseason practice this month.

Johnson will start the LSU season opener on Sept 4. against UCLA, while Brennan recovers from surgery on a broken bone in his left arm. With Brennan out, the Tigers now have just two scholarship quarterbacks available — Johnson and freshman Garrett Nussmeier with preseason practice set to begin Friday.

“Obviously, Max is going to be our starter, but he’s got to have a great camp,” Orgeron said during his weekly appearance on WNXX-FM, 104.5. “The depth chart is etched in sand. He knows he’s got to perform, but I believe in Max, just like I believe in Myles. I think we’ve got us a great quarterback, a great championship quarterback.”

Nussmeier was the 16th-ranked quarterback in the class of 2021 and a top-150 prospect per On3. He will now be Johnson’s backup with freshman walk-on Matt O’Dowd as the third-stringer.

Brennan’s injury history continues

Brennan was just retuning from a torn abdomen when he injured his left arm. The quarterback suffered a season-ending injury last year against Missouri. In just three games, he threw 1,112 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The situation is similar to the 2018 season when LSU only had two healthy scholarship quarterbacks in Joe Burrow and Brennan. The Tigers filled out the rest of the quarterback room with walk-ons but still managed to finish 10-3 and win the Fiesta Bowl.

Johnson may not have to earn the starting quarterback job throughout training camp, but he will have to prove he is ready to lead LSU in the month ahead.

Photo courtesy of Chris Graythen/Getty Images