LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is heading into 2025 under the eye of fans with great hopes. Even if 2024 was a year of ups and downs, and one in which he was the leader of the SEC in interceptions, the redshirt senior of the team has emerged from that period so much so that he is being watched by NFL scouts and experts who think that there is no end to his potential.
While the murmurs about the number one overall draft pick are increasing, Nussmeier, from an attacked main thrower to a wanted prospect, has been a very interesting and one of the best college football stories.
Garrett Nussmeier’s Rise from Adversity to College Football Stardom
The 2024 season dust had settled down, and amid the chorus of angry voices skeptical about Nussmeier’s performance, one probably stood out when NFL Scout with 18 years of talent evaluation experience, Jim Nagy, stated Nussmeier had “highest ceiling in the NFL Draft” among the quarterbacks that literally rocked the college football world.
Highest ceiling in the class.
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_Sooners) October 14, 2024
Nussmeier kicked off his journey as LSU’s starting quarterback in the first season, and the story was a tale of two halves. The Lake Charles native had thrown 337 out of 525 passes with 4,052 yards and 29 touchdowns, which was LSU’s all-time second-best.
However, his 12 interceptions made him the leader, together with Georgia’s Carson Beck, in the SEC. This has created a picture of a trade-off of too much with reckless decision-making, assuming the lead over even the brightest of spots. His frequent multi-interception games were an unwanted attribute, propelled by analysts to doubt his ability to stand the heat of top-tier football.
But as autumn turned to winter, something shifted in Nussmeier’s approach. LSU head coach Brian Kelly observed a marked improvement in the quarterback’s final three games, noting that “he played extremely well the last three games.” The transformation wasn’t merely statistical; it was psychological.
Nussmeier had learned to “tuck it and run” when necessary, addressing one of his most glaring weaknesses. His comeback victory over Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl, where he threw for 395 yards and three touchdowns while leading a 98-yard game-winning drive, served as the perfect exclamation point to his late-season resurgence.
CBS Sports analyst Carter Bahns emphasized, “Nussmeier has a higher ceiling than just about any quarterback in the nation and cleaned things up down the stretch last fall to reinvigorate excitement for the LSU offense.” His late-season improvement has reignited belief in both his NFL future and LSU’s 2025 prospects.
ESPN’s Todd McShay compared him to Baker Mayfield and described his arm flexibility in positive terms and the ability to create throwing windows from multiple angles. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound quarterback has the “NFL throws” that scouts are looking for, the speed and accuracy the pass needs to fit in a small space, which makes the difference between the college and the professional level of quarterbacks.
Situations like the one involving Nussmeier occur every day with elite quarterbacks who initially struggled but later found their form. First, Penn State’s Drew Allar had to confront the same turnover problems that Nussmeier faced in his early career. Second, Carson Beck overcame interception issues, though they were not enough to hinder him from being identified as a first-round talent.
As LSU prepares for what many consider a make-or-break season under Brian Kelly, Nussmeier stands at the center of championship aspirations. The Tigers have set their sights on the College Football Playoff, with Kelly boldly guaranteeing a berth.
