Looking forward to fall, Nussmeier excited to show LSU's firepower

Garrett Nussmeier led his offense onto the field with LSU trailing 31-28 with 6:10 left in the fourth quarter against Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Jan. 1. Starting at their own two-yard line, without first round talent Jayden Daniels and Malik Nabers it was an excellent test for the next group of LSU’s offensive talent.

Nussmeier fired a first-down completion to Kyren Lacy who scrambled forward for a 37-yard gain to midfield. On the next play, Nussmeier launched a deep ball to Chris Hilton who made an awesome sliding catch at the Wisconsin 15. A few plays later, it was Brian Thomas who stepped in to catch the game-winning touchdown reception from four yards out.

After a huge fist pump, Nussmeier was quickly picked up by his teammates in jubilation.

Nussmeier had his moments as a back-up quarterback throughout his career, with awesome flashes, but this felt different. He was in total control for the entire game and led his team to a win through adversity. That type of experience sticks with the redshirt junior quarterback entering 2024.

“When your back’s against the wall like that, you can’t really think about much, you just take it play by play,” Nussmeier said of that drive. “Can’t think about the situation, can’t think about what’s going on, you just focus on executing. I know that’s something that I’ve been trying to work on a lot as I’ve grown up like we talked about earlier, just growing up from two years ago and now I was just doing my job and doing things the way that I’m coached to do them. I guess you could say it was kind of cool and it really was. But I’d say, we’re excited for this season and to get to be out there and play again.”

LSU’s new-look receiver room includes a pair of transfers in CJ Daniels from Liberty and Zavion Thomas from Mississippi State who will step into prominent roles, but the development of returners in Cortez Hankton’s receiver room is equally as important. Kyren Lacy, Chris Hilton, Shelton Sampson, Aaron Anderson, and Kyle Parker all have expectations of progressing deeper in their careers in 2024. 

“What kind of number one can Kyren be? I think the sky’s the limit for Kyren. I think he’s an unbelievable player,” Nussmeier said. “The sky’s the limit for Chris and CJ, and Zavion, and all of our seniors in our room. We have some absolute dogs. It’s one of the great things about our place is we’re always going to have receivers. Chris, Kyren, and CJ, all of them have stepped up tremendously. And they’re all playing at the best level that they have ever played. We have so much depth and chemistry in that room that I’m really excited to see what all of them do.”

While the receiver room continues to grow, Nussmeier also remains focused on his work with quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan this offseason. Sloan is also LSU’s co-offensive coordinator this year and therefore will have high expectations of Nussmeier who has waited for this opportunity his entire life.

“We just continue to do the same work we’ve been doing,” Nussmeier said. “Continue to take it day by day and get better each and every day. I love Coach Sloan. I wouldn’t want to play for anybody else. I value our relationship a whole lot. I don’t believe there’s anybody else in the country that will be able to get me more ready to play just based on our relationship and how much he knows me and how much he knows how to push me and make me better. He’s probably harder on me than anybody. And I’m okay with that because it pushes me. I really appreciate that also.”