Garrett Nussmeier arrived at the NFL scouting combine prepared to answer questions about his own draft outlook, but he also used the moment to stand up for a former LSU teammate.
Garrett Nussmeier Fires Back at Critics of Will Campbell
The quarterback did not hold back while defending New England Patriots left tackle Will Campbell, pushing back hard against criticism that followed Campbell’s uneven finish to his rookie season. His remarks, combined with details about his own injury-shortened season, added fresh layers to an already intriguing pre-draft storyline.
When asked about Campbell’s late-season struggles, Nussmeier offered an emphatic endorsement of the Patriots’ young left tackle. Campbell, who stepped into the starting role at age 22, opened his rookie year with steady play. He started 13 games and helped New England finish 14–3. Across the regular season, he surrendered just five sacks and was flagged seven times.
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier defends former teammate/#Patriots OT Will Campbell:
“It kind of shows me people sometimes don’t really know what they’re talking about and like to get on Twitter, they live in their parents’ basement … They don’t know football.” pic.twitter.com/7Y2Gj99lZw
— Bailey Adams (@BaileyJAdams22) February 27, 2026
The tone changed in the postseason. Campbell tore his right MCL on Nov. 23 and missed four games while on injured reserve before returning shortly before the playoffs. Patriots personnel executive Eliot Wolf acknowledged the toll the injury appeared to take, saying Campbell “probably had three of his four worst games in the playoffs” and did not display his typical lower-body strength.
In a closely examined matchup against the Chargers, Campbell allowed five pressures and a sack that resulted in a fumble, producing his lowest pass-protection efficiency mark of the season. That stretch drew online criticism, something Nussmeier found frustrating.
“It kind of shows me people sometimes don’t really know what they’re talking about and like to get on Twitter, they live in their parents’ basement … They don’t know football,” he said. He later added, “I’m more just speaking in defense of my boy here, because he’s a darn good football player. He’s going to play for a really long time in the NFL, and he’s going to be just fine.”
While defending Campbell, Nussmeier also addressed questions about his own turbulent season. Not long ago, he was viewed as a co-favorite to go No. 1 overall in the 2026 draft. Since then, projections have shifted.
Fernando Mendoza, coming off a 16–0 run with Indiana that included a Heisman Trophy and a College Football Playoff national championship, is now widely expected to be the top pick, with Alabama’s Ty Simpson positioned just behind him.
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Nussmeier explained that a core injury early in fall camp derailed his rhythm. “My injury occurred in fall camp, Day 2, practice two of fall camp,” he said. “I really wasn’t able to throw the football. I had a stabbing pain in my ab every time I went to go throw the ball.”
He described the condition as unusual and difficult to diagnose, noting it was not fully identified until two months ago. Despite those setbacks, Nussmeier emphasized he is nearing full health. “I’m at 100 percent, if not close to it, and starting to feel like myself again,” he said.
During the 2024 season as LSU’s starter, Nussmeier threw for 4,052 yards with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, posting a 142.7 rating while completing 64.2 percent of his 525 attempts. He surpassed 7,000 career passing yards in Baton Rouge.
