The LSU Tigers’ season started on a high note with a win over Clemson. But soon it all came crashing down and ended with Brian Kelly getting fired. While the Baton Rouge might not complain much about the season after getting their new coach, Lane Kiffin, some still debate what caused the slide and eventual $54M payout to Kelly. It seems Cam Newton has found the culprit in their quarterback, Garrett Nussmeier.
Cam Newton Issues Hot Take About LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier
Newton appeared on the latest episode of his “4th&1” show and broke down the current draft’s QB class. When the Auburn legend came to Nussmeier, he had some strong opinions. He revealed how he perceived the former LSU QB in high regard, but it soon changed in the off-season.
Newton said, “Brother, I ain’t going to lie to you. I thought you was the real deal. Ding-ding, Holyfield. Man, I played NCAA when the game came out. I was like, ‘Boy, LSU fire’. Boy, they got the fastest team on the game, and they got a good quarterback. He had the star, man.”
“I started looking at LSU during this season. I’m saying what? He also got a coach fired. ‘Hey, you’re fired. Out of there’. Brian Kelly, ask him how he think about him,” Newton continued.
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The pundits especially point to the coaching malpractice surrounding Nussmeier’s torso injury. While Kelly publicly dismissed the injury as “silly misinformation,” Nussmeier’s diminished velocity and poor decision-making suggested otherwise.
Kelly’s failure to adapt the scheme or pivot to a backup resulted in losing the locker room and the administration’s trust. It’s no surprise that PFSN’s CFB QB Impact ranked the Tigers’ QB 110th.
LSU’s defense remained inconsistent throughout his tenure, and the team’s inability to compete with elite SEC talent was a recurring theme. The decision to fire Kelly was rooted in a $100 million expectation for championships that “simply did not materialize,” according to AD Scott Woodward.
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Now, Nussmeier has shifted his attention to the draft, where he is competing with Carson Beck to be the third quarterback taken. But Newton is not letting him off the hook easily. He declared, “Now, Nussmeier is also hanging on the name of his dad being a coach. Being a football fan, I get it.”
PFSN’s Jacob Infante writes, “Garrett Nussmeier excels in all the fundamentals: he’s accurate, smart, and composed under pressure. His pocket presence and decision-making stand out.” After noting his inconsistency and potential, Infante has him going to the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 85th pick.
